In a video statement, Prajwal Revanna claimed he was ‘depressed‘ after Congress leaders highlighted allegations of sexual abuse in rallies.
Prajwal Revanna
Exactly a month after he left the country, Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, who is facing multiple charges of sexually assaulting women, said on Monday, 27 May that he will appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the cases against him on 31 May.
“I will personally, on Friday, 31 May at 10 am, appear before the SIT and will cooperate with the investigation and will respond to it (charges). I have faith in court and I am confident that I will come out of false cases through court,” Prajwal Revanna said in a video statement released to the media.
He also apologised to his parents, grandfather, JD(S) party workers and people of the state for going incommunicado. He said, “First, I would like to apologise to my parents, grandfather, Kumaranna (HD Kumaraswamy), JD(S) party workers and people of the state for not giving proper information of where I was.”
“I have come out to provide details about my stay in a foreign country as there was no proper information. The polling was held on 26 April and there were no cases against me. Even SIT was also not formed,” explained Revanna. He also alleged that his visit to the foreign country was pre-planned.
He said that he had sought seven-day time after the SIT served him notice and that the accusations were a conspiracy to defame him. He further said that the day after he sought a week’s time, “Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi started to discuss this (cases against him) openly in public rallies and also tried to hatch a political conspiracy against me.”
In a fresh statement, #Hassan MP @iPrajwalRevanna pledges to appear before SIT on 31 May regarding the sexual abuse case.
Apologizes to family, @JanataDal_S party, and #Karnataka citizens, citing pre-planned foreign visit. Alleges political conspiracy, vows to cooperate with… pic.twitter.com/d8hv6xht6P
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) May 27, 2024
“After witnessing all these, I went into depression and isolated myself. Hence, I would like to apologise to everyone. Even in Hassan, a political conspiracy is being hatched against me. It is a conspiracy to defame me, considering my growth in politics,” Revanna further alleged while assuring that he will appear before the SIT on 31 May and cooperate in the investigation against him.
“I have trust in the judiciary. I also have confidence that I will get bailed out through court in these fake cases against me. Let there be a blessing of God, people and family on me. I will turn up before the SIT on Friday,” said Prajwal, appealing to people to trust him.
There was no independent confirmation from the JD(S) or the family of the suspended party MP immediately over the matter. 33-year-old Prajwal, the grandson of JD(S) patriarch and former PM HD Deve Gowda and the NDA candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment, is facing charges of multiple instances of sexually abusing women.
Prajwal 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 Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
A Special Court for Elected Representatives issued an arrest warrant on 18 May against Prajwal Revanna, following an application moved by the SIT. The Congress-led Karnataka government has urged the Centre to cancel his diplomatic passport.
Reeacting to the video released by Prajwal Revanna, JD(S) state chief and former CM HD Kumaraswamy told reporters: “JD(S) national president HD Deve Gowda and I had cautioned (Prajwal) to appear before the SIT. I had also appealed to him that if he has respect for the party workers, he should come back immediately.”
He further said that he is relaxed that Prajwal showed some affection to party workers. “I am relaxed a bit as he agreed to return. Further procedures will take place in the coming days. Now, after the investigation, the truth has to come out and whoever played a role will come out in the SIT investigation. We will see where they will take it,” added Kumaraswamy.
“I had not asked him to apologise to me but told him to respond to the pain of party workers. I am also a bit relaxed as he showed some affection to the party workers,” concluded Kumaraswamy.
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said that he welcomes Prajwal’s video statement and said that this kind of incident hasn’t happened in the state’s history. Talking to reporters, he said, “As all of you know, in Karnataka history this kind of incident hadn’t happened. All efforts were in to bring him back. The Chief Minister had written two letters to the Prime Minister.”
The Home Minister pointed out the efforts taken by the state government to bring him back and said, “We had appealed to the centre to cancel his diplomatic passport and help in bringing him back. The Ministry of External Affairs had stated that the procedure was underway to cancel his passport. Prajwal’s statement is welcomed. He must appear and has to say whatever he has to say in front of SIT.”
(Edited by Neena)
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