Karnataka JD(S) chief HD Kumaraswamy urges nephew Prajwal Revanna to surrender, says his phone is being tapped

That was days after devices containing numerous video clips of his alleged sexual abuse of women surfaced in Hassan.

His father — JD(S) leader and Holenarasipura MLA HD Revanna — has also been accused of sexual abuse. He has since been arrested and also released on bail.

Ever since Prajwal left the country, there has been no sign of him despite Interpol issuing a Blue Corner notice in his name across 196 countries.

The leader from the Opposition also alleged that his phone was among dozens of others being tapped by the state government.

Related: ‘Efforts underway to bring Prajwal Revanna back to India’

HDK’s appeal to Prajwal

Kumaraswamy — a former chief minister of Karnataka — told reporters on Monday: “Prajwal, wherever you are, come back soon. I am appealing to Prajwal through the media to cooperate with the investigation team.”

He added: “It seems that this government does not have the power to call Prajwal, so I am making an appeal.”

He also said, addressing Prajwal: “Respect the elders (Deve Gowda) and party workers and come back immediately. Cooperate with the investigation team and face the case according to the law.”

He added: “I am saying this because I cannot see the pain of my father. No one else should suffer because of us.”

Kumaraswamy continued: “Father said that he would appeal through the media, but I am doing it instead.”

He also said: “I go to Padmanabha Nagar (HD Deve Gowda’s residence) every day. I am not going there to discuss how to protect Prajwal. I am going there to reassure our parents that their lives should not be disturbed. This meeting with my parents is being narrated with a cooked-up story.”

Prajwal is the grandson of JD(S) patriarch HD Deve Gowda — who resides in the posh Padmanabha Nagar area of Bengaluru — and nephew of Kumaraswamy.

It may be noted that earlier this month, Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy obtained a gag order from a Bengaluru civil court against news media involving either of them in reports in Prajwal.

Also Read: Writers, academics urge Siddaramaiah to immediately arrest Prajwal

Charges of phone-tapping

Meanwhile, Kumaraswamy on Monday also levelled a serious allegation against the Congress government in the state.

He said the state government was tapping his phone as well as the phones of around 40 other people.

Kumaraswamy told reporters: “The government is tapping the phones of everyone around me, including Revanna’s phone. Even my phone is also being tapped.”

He added: “This government has come to the conclusion that our family should be finished politically. It was revealed in the audio tapes itself.”

He continued: “Therefore, the government is tapping the mobile phones of all our families. It has not spared anyone; everyone’s phone is being tapped.”

Also Read: HD Revanna gets bail from Bengaluru court in sexual assault case

Shivakumar denies allegations

Responding to the phone-tapping allegations, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar refuted the allegations on Monday.

Shivakumar, who is also the chief of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, told reporters: “Kumaraswamy and Revanna are not terrorists to warrant such action. Our government will not do such things.”

He added: “The government taps phones of terrorists with due processes. there is no need to tap the phones of political leaders in the state.”

He levelled a counter-allegation, saying: “They are making these allegations for publicity.”