SIT interrogates Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna

The Special Court for Public Representatives will hear the bail application of Prajwal and his mother Bhavani Revanna on Friday.

Before arriving in Bengaluru from Munich, the MP from Hassan had made a final attempt to evade arrest and had applied for bail in court.

Prajwal is accused of three counts of sexual abuse, while his mother has sought interim bail in an alleged kidnapping case.

Although Bhavani is not an accused in the case, the SIT is reportedly looking into her role.

In the same case, Bhavani’s husband and Holenarasipura MP HD Revanna, the son of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, was arrested and later released on bail. He is also accused of sexually harassing the cook of his house, who was also allegedly sexually abused by his son Prajwal.

Prajwal, 33, grandson of Deve Gowda and candidate of the BJP-JD(S) alliance for the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, is accused of sexually abusing several women. He has so far been charged in three cases of sexual assault.

He had left for Germany on April 27, a day after Hassan went to vote. Interpol had previously issued a “Blue Corner Notice” seeking information on his whereabouts after the SIT made a request through the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The MP called the allegations against him false and accused him of a political conspiracy. In a video message released earlier this week, he said he had fallen into depression.

He also filed an interim bail application in the Principal City and Sessions Court for Elected Representatives on May 29. The court issued a notice to the SIT to file an objection before scheduling the hearing on Friday.

The scandal triggered a political storm that led to a slugfest between the ruling Congress party and the BJP-JD(S).

While the Congress government has set up an SIT to investigate the cases, BJP and JD(S) – partners of the NDA – demanded that the investigation be handed over to the CBI and action be taken against those responsible for the widespread distribution of the abuse videos.

The sexual abuse cases came to light after several USB sticks allegedly containing videos featuring Prajwal were circulated in Hassan ahead of the April 26 Lok Sabha elections.

Deve Gowda recently issued a “stern warning” to Prajwal, asking him to return to the country and face investigations into the sexual abuse allegations, while assuring that neither he nor other family members would interfere in the investigation.

The JD(S) leader had reiterated that if his grandson was found guilty, he should receive the harshest punishment provided for by law.

Prajwal’s uncle and former Prime Minister HD Kumaraswamy also repeatedly appealed to his nephew to return to the country and face the investigation.

Due to these allegations, the JD(S) suspended Prajwal Revanna from the party.