JD(S) MLC Suraj Revanna, accused of sexually abusing a male party worker, sent to jail

Bengaluru: JD(S) MLC Suraj Revanna, accused of sexually assaulting a man at his farm in Holenarasipura, Hassan, was remanded in judicial custody on Sunday.

Suraj, a trained doctor, was arrested in Hassan on Sunday morning and brought to Bengaluru in the evening. The 36-year-old was later produced at the magistrate’s residence in Koramangala. The magistrate remanded him in custody for 14 days.

On June 22, Holenarasipura police booked Suraj under sections 377 (unnatural offences), 342 (wrongful confinement), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (acts done by several persons with common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) after a 27-year-old male JD(S) worker filed a police complaint accusing the politician of sexually harassing him on June 16.

The survivor had earlier written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Home Minister G Parameshwara, DG&IGP Alok Mohan and Hassan SP Mohammed Sujeetha MS.

On Sunday, the Karnataka government handed over the case to the CID. Well-informed sources said the CID will soon take Suraj into custody.

On June 21, Suraj’s close aide Shivakumar filed a police complaint accusing the survivor and his brother-in-law of trying to extort money from the MLC. Based on Shivakumar’s complaint, the Holenarasipura police registered a case under IPC sections 384 (extortion), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (involvement of others in conspiracy).

Suraj married in 2018 but divorced soon after.