Sexual harassment case: Siddaramaiah holds discussion with DGP; says SIT working independently and impartially

The 33-year-old Hassan MP reportedly flew to Germany soon after the Karnataka State Commission for Women chairperson Nagalakshmi Chowdhary wrote to the CM to order a probe into the sexual allegations against Prajwal after scores of explicit videos and pictures went viral on social media.

A Special Investigation Team was formed to investigate the case and it has served two notices to Prajwal.

Prajwal’s father and MLA HD Revanna has been arrested and remanded to police custody in connection with a kidnap case linked to the sexual allegations.

Revanna’s aide Sathish Babanna was also remanded to police custody by a city court on Monday, in relation to the abduction case.

A blue corner notice has been issued against Prajwal Revanna, who is abroad, according to Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara.

The SIT has carried out a spot inspection at Revanna’s house at Basavanagudi in Bengaluru in the presence of the victim.

Also Read: Congress hits out at PM Modi on sexual abuse allegations against Prajwal Revanna

‘Independent and impartial investigation’

Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah said, the SIT will conduct an independent and impartial investigation in which the state government will not interfere.

In a statement, the chief minister rejected BJP leader and lawyer G Devaraje Gowda’s allegation that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) is being controlled by the state government.

“BJP leader Devaraje Gowda’s allegation that the SIT is working on remote control and that it is a rubber stamp of the government is completely untrue. It is a ploy to avoid investigation with malicious intent to protect criminals,” Siddaramaiah said in a statement.

The SIT was formed after allegations of sexual exploitation of a large number of women, captured in nearly 3,000 video clips, emerged against Prajwal Revanna, who is seeking re-election from Hassan.

Siddaramaiah stressed that the SIT is working in a transparent manner.

“The government is bound to prosecute the culprits, no matter how influential they are. It is with this objective in mind that the SIT has been formed by including selected efficient officers,” the chief minister underlined.

Attack on BJP

He also took a dig at the BJP for crying foul.

“There is no point in BJP leaders shouting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s name is being tarnished because of this case. The BJP should have thought this before forming an alliance with JD(S),” Siddaramaiah said.

The JD(S) is contesting the Lok Sabha elections as part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Karnataka.

The chief minister said the success of the SIT investigation is now entirely dependent on the Centre’ cooperation.

“The central government should cooperate in bringing the accused Prajwal Revanna, who is said to be abroad, to India. The BJP, which still has a political alliance with the JD(S), needs to clarify its stand,” Siddaramaiah said.

Also Read: SIT probing Prajwal Revanna sexual abuse case sets up helpline for victims

(Disclaimer: The headline, subheads, and intro of this report along with the photos may have been reworked by South First. The rest of the content is from a syndicated feed, and has been edited for style.)