Sexual assault case: ‘Big whale’ behind leak of objectionable videos, says HD Kumaraswamy; DCM DK Shivakumar refutes | Bengaluru

JD(S) chief HD Kumaraswamy on Tuesday alleged that a “big whale” was behind sharing explicit videos of women who were allegedly sexually abused by his nephew and party MP Hassan Prajwal Revanna. Kumaraswamy’s swipe was apparently aimed at Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who refused to comment. Talking to reporters about the Prajwal Revanna case, the JD(S) deputy said an MLA from Mandya had said “big whales” were behind the release of the video.

When Kumaraswamy was asked to explain who the “big whale” is, he said, “Who else is it? Today, an MLA from Mandya spoke about ‘big whale’. Whatever the ‘big whale’ says, the same is followed by the ‘little whales’.” He said listening to the arguments of the lawyers, prima facie it appears that the arrest of MLA HD Revanna, Kumaraswamys Brother, was “politics of hate”.

READ | HD Revanna released from prison in woman kidnapping case

The government took action against Revanna to tarnish the reputation of former Prime Minister Deve Gowda, the former chief minister alleged. He asked how someone would catch the “big whale” if they were in government. Reacting to Kumaraswamy’s remarks, Shivakumar said, “He (Kumaraswamy) should arrest and swallow the ‘big whale’.” I am neither a director nor a producer. I’m just an exhibitor, a theater exhibitor.”

On Kumaraswamy’s allegations that Revanna was arrested to defame Deve Gowda, the deputy chief minister said: “Not at all. See, I feel sorry for him too (Revanna). I also believe that things like this shouldn’t happen. It’s such a big family. Let them think what they want, but I don’t wish anything bad on anyone and I don’t need it.”

READ | “Bring back Prajwal Revanna from Germany and hand over to Karnataka govt”: Cong to PM

Shivakumar, who is also the president of the Karnataka unit of Congress, said he believes in natural law and has also suffered a lot. “I too was confronted with a political conspiracy. I know how strong and full of self-confidence I am. That’s why God protected me,” he said. Revanna, the eldest son of JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, was arrested along with his associate Sathish Babanna for allegedly kidnapping a woman on April 29.

The case was registered following a complaint by the woman’s son, who alleged that his mother was sexually abused by Revanna’s son and JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna. According to police sources, the woman was allegedly kidnapped to prevent her from testifying against Prajwal.

READ | 2 sentenced to 14 days imprisonment for disseminating objectionable videos in Prajwal Revanna case

The explicit videos of alleged sexual abuse by Prajwal did the rounds on social media and the government formed the SIT on April 28 to investigate the case after the Karnataka State Commission for Women wrote a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in which she called for an investigation. The 33-year-old Prajwal, who was NDA candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, is scheduled to leave the country on April 27, a day after the elections, skipping the SIT’s summons to appear before it.

Interpol has issued a Blue Corner notice against the “fugitive” MP ​​accused of sexual abuse. A Blue Corner Notice is issued to collect information from member countries about a person’s identity, location or activities in connection with a crime. HD Revanna was released on bail on Tuesday.