CID takes over sexual assault case against Suraj Revanna; Parameshwara says necessary action will be taken

A case of alleged sexual abuse of a male party worker by JD(S) MP Suraj Revanna has been handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for investigation, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Sunday (June 23).

Earlier in the day, Suraj Revanna – the brother of former MP Prajwal Revanna, who is facing allegations of sexually abusing several women, was arrested in Hassan on charges of “unnatural offences” against him, PTI reported.

He was arrested on Saturday for allegedly sexually assaulting a party worker a few days ago. He was charged under various sections of the International Penal Code (IPC), including “unnatural offences”.

Handed over to the criminal police

“The case registered at Holenarasipura police station in Hassan district under sections 377, 342, 506 and 34 IPC is transferred to the CID for further investigation with immediate effect. The case file should be transferred to the CID immediately for further investigation,” said a message from the office of the Director General and Inspector General of Police to the Director General of CID and Superintendent of Police Hassan.

The Hassan District Police Commissioner has been instructed to send the file to the IO (investigating officer) concerned so that he can personally hand it over to the investigating officer at the CID, it said.

The Director General of Police, CID (Special Forces and Economic Offences), Bengaluru, has been asked to initiate further investigation and submit a detailed report after completion of investigation into the case.

Investigation ongoing

Speaking to reporters, Parameshwara said that following the complaint, the police filed an FIR, arrested Suraj Revanna and continued the investigation.

The case will be handed over to the CID, he said, adding, “A number of similar cases have been handed over to the CID, this one too will be handed over to the CID.” Regarding Suraj Revanna’s complaint, he said, “All necessary action will be taken.”

On Suraj Revanna’s allegation of a conspiracy against his family, Parameshwara said, “The complaint has been received and on the basis of it, all necessary action will be taken under law. Apart from that, I am not aware of any political conspiracy that he has alleged.”

Suraj was questioned overnight at the Cyber ​​Economics and Drug Crime (CEN) police station in Hassan before being arrested this morning and later taken to the Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS) for medical examination.

Male complainant

A 27-year-old man had filed a complaint with the police that Suraj Revanna, the eldest son of Holenarasipura MP HD Revanna, sexually assaulted him on June 16 at his farm in Ghannikada.

Based on the complaint, the Holenarasipura police registered a case against the JD(S) MLC under IPC sections 377 (unnatural offences), 342 (wrongful deprivation of liberty) and 506 (criminal intimidation) late on Saturday night.

However, Suraj, the grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and nephew of Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy, categorically denied the allegations. Suraj had also alleged that the man had filed a false complaint against him to extort Rs 50 crore from him.

On Friday, police registered an extortion case against the JD(S) worker based on a complaint filed by Suraj Revanna’s close aide Shivakumar.

Shivakumar had alleged that the party worker tried to extort money from Suraj Revanna by threatening to file a false complaint of sexual assault against him.

It is alleged that Suraj Revanna’s husband initially demanded Rs 5 crore, but the amount was later reduced to Rs 2 crore.

Arrest of Prajwal

Suraj’s brother and former Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna is in police custody on charges of sexually harassing several women and was arrested last month after returning from Germany.

Prajwal, who lost his Hassan seat in the Lok Sabha, was arrested on May 31, shortly after his return from Germany, where he had been hidden after charges of rape and intimidation were leveled against him.

Her father HD Revanna and mother Bhavani are out on bail on charges of kidnapping and holding an alleged victim of sexual assault by her son Prajwal.