Prajwal Revanna sexual assault | HDK blames DKS for the spread of USB sticks

We accuse the Special Investigation Team (SIT), set up by the Karnataka government to probe the alleged sexual exploitation of Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, of working “at the behest of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar”. Former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy has demanded that the probe be handed over to the CBI if the focus is on justice for the women victims.

“If the Prime Minister has any morals, he should remove Mr Shivakumar from the Cabinet. We will also complain to the Karnataka governor,” he said in Bengaluru on May 7, but quickly added that he was making no effort to protect Prajwal Revanna.

Calling Mr Shivakumar the “main conspirator” in the distribution of pen drives with sexually explicit content allegedly involving suspended JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna and several women, the former chief minister said, “He is behind the release of USB sticks.” . The SIT officials are behaving like agents of Mr. Siddaramaiah and Mr. Shivakumar. He (Mr. Shivakumar) did this to “Sahukar‘ (former BJP minister Ramesh Jarkiholi) too.

“Why didn’t the SIT issue a notice to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on his claim that there were 400 women victims? He must surely have some basis for making that claim.”

Mr Kumaraswamy’s statement came a day after BJP leader and the party’s losing candidate in Holenarasipura, Devaraje Gowda, made similar allegations.

“While the State Commission for Women sought an investigation into the alleged sexual exploitation and also against those who distributed the USB drive, the latter was ignored,” the former chief minister alleged.

“Let the truth about HD Revanna’s alleged kidnapping also come to light. Why didn’t SIT bring the alleged victim to justice? It’s been more than two days since she was rescued. While the second complainant alleged that she was raped at gunpoint, she was seen on stage with Prajwal Revanna in Belur on April 22 during the election campaign for the Lok Sabha elections. The USB sticks were distributed on the night of April 21st. “It is a serious matter,” he said, while supporting the BJP’s demand for a judicial probe into the matter.

“The Congress,” he alleged, “is not interested in delivering justice but in working on publicity to topple Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”

The former chief minister said, “The SIT must conduct a fair investigation. On the one hand, it is declared that distributing or possessing the videos is a criminal offense. No action was taken against five persons, including the alleged main distributor of the USB flash drive Naveen Gowda, despite a complaint being lodged against them in Hassan.”

Will Prajwal not protect Revanna: HD Kumaraswamy

Stating that there is no question of protecting Prajwal Revanna, he said, “It is a sad development for Karnataka. It made us hang our heads in shame. I won’t protect anyone, no matter who it is. I will neither interfere nor assist Prajwal Revanna in the investigation.”

He claimed that he knew nothing about the whereabouts of the MP, who is now believed to be in Germany, and had no contact with him.

“I would not have given the ticket to Prajwal Revanna if I had become aware of the USB drive earlier. Yes, there were problems giving him a ticket. I wanted to change the candidate after party workers complained about his behavior of disrespecting senior citizens and party workers,” he said.