BJP leader Devaraje Gowda, arrested for sexual assault, sent to judicial custody

BJP leader G. Devaraje Gowda, who was arrested from Chitradurga district on Friday evening, has been in judicial custody for 14 days.

The Holenarsipur police, who arrested him on sexual assault charges, produced him before the Additional Civil Magistrate and JMFC in Holenarsipur on Saturday evening. The judge sentenced him to 14 days in custody.

A team of police from Hassan took him to Holenarsipur on Saturday morning. The police also confiscated his car.

Mr Devaraje Gowda, 49, a lawyer, contested the 2023 Assembly election from Holenarsipur on the BJP ticket. He lost the election to former minister HD Revanna. Mr. Devaraje Gowda is known for his rivalry with Mr. Revanna’s family. He often held press conferences against the family members.

In recent months, he claimed to have videos and photos related to Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna. However, when video clips and photos allegedly related to Mr Prajwal Revanna went viral on USB drives and messaging apps last month ahead of the Hassan election, he alleged that Congress leaders were behind the act.