Prajwal Revanna sexual assault case: Siddaramaiah rules out handing over probe to CBI despite BJP’s demand

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday categorically rejected the opposition BJP’s fresh demand to rope in the Central Bureau of Investigation to probe sexual assault allegations against MP Hassan and Janata Dal (Secularity) leader Prajwal Revanna . Instead, he reiterated his trust in the state police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is currently handling the case.

When asked by the BJP why it did not trust the state police, the CM accused the opposition party of making “misleading” statements aimed at creating confusion in the minds of people about the SIT, which he said was a “fair “investigation”.

“Believe in the state police”

“We do not interfere in the work of the police. The police were given full freedom. We have trust in our police. They are efficient,” Mr Siddaramaiah said.

Pointing out that the BJP had once referred to the central agency as the “Corruption Bureau of Investigation”, the CM pointed out that despite the Congress’s repeated demands, the party never handed over a single case to the CBI while in the state was in power.

Defending the SIT probe, Mr Siddaramaiah said: “It is not that I have no faith in the CBI. When I was prime minister earlier, I handed over seven cases to the CBI but there was not a single conviction in any case.”

“SIT probe biased”

Earlier in the day, BJP leaders – including former CM Basavaraj Bommai and Leader of Opposition R Ashok – made a fresh proposal for a CBI probe and alleged that the SIT probe lacked proper direction. They alleged that the investigation was not impartial and accused the SIT of arresting the complainants and not the accused.

Responding to a question from reporters on the arrest of BJP leader Devaraje Gowda, who was allegedly behind the circulation of videos recording the sexual abuse allegedly committed by Mr. Revanna, the Chief Minister said that “the BJP’s job is to address false allegations.” raise”.

Asked about Union Minister Pralhad Joshi’s statement accusing the Congress government of a “witch hunt” against BJP workers in connection with the case, Mr Siddaramaiah noted that Mr Joshi was a Union Minister and should speak responsibly. “BJP leaders are experts in lying, they only make false allegations,” he said.