Sources said Prajwal applied for anticipatory bail before the Special Court for People’s Representatives in Bengaluru.
Prajwal Revanna, Karnataka HM G Parameshwara.
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Wednesday, 29 May, said suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna, who is facing charges of sexually abusing several women, will be arrested as soon as he arrives at the airport in Bengaluru.
Meanwhile, the Special Court for People’s Representatives in Bengaluru rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Prajwal moved by his advocate Arun.
The home minister’s statement came two days after Prajwal released a video statement promising that he would appear before the SIT on 31 May.
Three cases registered against Prajwal — one at Holenarsipura Town Police Station, the second at the Bengaluru Cyber Crime Police Station and the third before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) — were transferred to the SIT.
According to official sources, the Hassan MP has booked a return flight ticket to Bengaluru from Munich on 30 May and is expected to land in the city in the small hours of 31 May.
Addressing reporters in Bengaluru, Parameshwara said, “All necessary measures have to be taken, as a warrant has been issued against him (Prajwal). He has to be arrested. SIT is waiting, they will arrest him and will take his statement, and their (SIT) process will start.”
Asked if Prajwal would be arrested at the airport on landing, he said, “It (arrest) has to be done there (at the airport), as a warrant has been issued. So he will have to be arrested.”
Prajwal (33), the grandson of JD(S) patriarch HD Deve Gowda and the NDA candidate from the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency is facing charges of sexually abusing women.
He reportedly left for Germany on 27 April, a day after Hassan went to polls, and is still at large. A ‘Blue Corner Notice’ seeking information on his whereabouts has already been issued by Interpol, following a request by the SIT via the CBI.
A Special Court for Elected Representatives issued an arrest warrant on 18 May against Prajwal Revanna, following an application moved by the SIT.
To a question on the arrest of two persons by SIT in connection with the pen drive circulation case, the home minister said more than the question of Congress, BJP and JD(S), whoever is involved in this case, will be arrested.
“Already 11-12 people have been arrested, whoever they (SIT) feel are involved in the case, during the investigation, they will arrest them and inquire them,” he added.
The cases of sexual abuse came to light after several pen drives allegedly containing explicit videos involving Prajwal were reportedly circulated in Hassan, ahead of Lok Sabha polls there on 26 April.
To a query regarding the case in which money to the tune of crores was embezzled at a state-run corporation under the Scheduled Tribes Welfare department, and an official committed suicide in connection with the case, the home minister said the CID probe is on.
Meanwhile, Prajwal’s mother Bhavani Revanna filed an anticipatory bail in the special court for elected representatives fearing arrest in the kidnap case linked to her husband.
The SIT filed objections to granting the anticipatory bail to her and also sought to cancel the interim anticipatory bail issued to HD Revanna in the same case.
Bhavani Revanna’s anticipatory bail order is reserved for 31 May.
“The department has lodged a complaint. ₹187 crore (misappropriated), out of that ₹94 crore or so has been transferred (without authorisation). Each one gives a different figure. Someone mentioned ₹84 crore, while others said ₹97 crore. It will be known from the investigation. The truth will come out,” he said.
Reacting to reports that money was transferred to accounts of various IT companies, he said, “It is said that prima facie the money has gone to eight to ten accounts. It will be known from the investigation.”
On BJP demanding the resignation of Scheduled Tribes Welfare Minister B Nagendra, Parameshwara said, “They (BJP) will keep asking for resignation for every incident. Let the investigation happen. It is alleged (in the death note of the officer) that the minister gave oral orders on transferring the funds, truth will be known from the probe.”
When pointed out that Congress while in Opposition had sought then minister KS Eshwarappa’s resignation following the suicide of a contractor naming him, he said, “In that case, minister Eshwarappa was named, that’s not the case here. We will have to wait for the probe.”
(With PTI inputs)
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