NCW claims a woman was forced to file fake case against Prajwal Revanna; SIT says she isn’t even one of the complainants

Explicit videos of the sexual abuse of several women by Prajwal had been doing the rounds on social media. The state government formed the SIT on 28 April to probe the case after the Karnataka State Commission for Women wrote a letter to the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

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NCW statement

In a release, the NCW claimed that a woman approached the commission to file a complaint against three individuals who were allegedly pressurising and threatening her to file a false sexual abuse case against Prajwal.

NCW stated nobody approached the women’s commission to file complaints against Prajwal.

“One woman complainant came to the commission to register a complaint against three individuals dressed in civil dress who allegedly introduced themselves as Karnataka police officials. They forced her to file a complaint, under the threat of potential harassment and false implications,” the NCW said.

“The victim has sought protection for her family’s welfare, underscoring the seriousness of the situation,” it added.

Stating that NCW stands firm in its condemnation of any form of violence or sexual abuse perpetrated against women, it said: “Recent development surrounding the Prajwal Revanna case has prompted the NCW to take swift decisive action.”

“The NCW is committed to justice and protection for women, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based inquiry over premature judgements,” the commission reiterated.

Also Read: HD Kumaraswamy seeks Governor’s intervention in Prajwal sexual abuse case probe

‘None from the SIT contacted the woman’

Meanwhile, the SIT chief said no one from his contacted the woman.

“The SIT came to know about this woman only on Wednesday after NCW forwarded the complaint to SIT,” Singh said.

“No one from SIT has contacted her before and she had not filed any complaint with us,” he clarified.

“The woman NCW was referring to is not even a complainant. SIT has started an inquiry to know the identity of the people who had contacted the woman. Appropriate legal action will be taken against such people,” stated Singh.

Even since obscene videos, including those of sexual assault, allegedly featuring Prajwal Revanna — the MP of Hassan who is the NDA candidate from the same constituency — were leaked, three FIRs have been registered against him over sexual abuse.

Prajwal fled the country on 27 April, a day after the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections and skipped the SIT summons to appear before it.

State Home Minister G Parameshwara had said that Interpol had issued a Blue Corner notice against Prajwal at the request of the CBI.

The SIT has arrested six people including his father HD Revanna who is accused of kidnapping a woman allegedly sexually abused by Prajwal.

Meanwhile, the bail petition of JD(S) MLA Revanna in the kidnapping case has been adjourned to 13 May. He is currently lodged at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru.

Of the three FIRs filed against Prajwal, two are before the Hassan district police and one before the CID in Bengaluru. All three cases have been transferred to the SIT.

(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)