Prajwal Revanna: Indian MP accused of sexually abusing several women and arrested after returning from Germany

Indian parliamentarian Prajwal Revanna, who is accused of sexually harassing several women, was arrested in the early hours of Friday after arriving in Bengaluru from Germany.

Revanna is a leader of the Janata Dal (secular party).

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrested the politician after he landed at Kempegowda International Airport.

On Monday, he released a statement claiming that comments and “political drama” by opposition leaders had driven him into “depression and isolation.”

“I apologise to my parents… I was depressed. I will come (back to India) and appear before the SIT (a special investigation team of the state government) on May 31 (Friday),” Revanna said, according to media reports.

“I will cooperate to the best of my ability and provide all answers. I have full faith in the legal system and will get out of these false charges against me. I have the blessings of God and my family…”

On May 1, four days after fleeing the country, Revanna posted a message on X saying, “I am not in Bengaluru… I have spoken (to the police) through my lawyer. The truth will soon come out.”

Revanna is the grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and nephew of former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.

He represented Hassan constituency in Karnataka in the outgoing term and has been nominated to defend the constituency in the 2024 general elections. The JDS is allied with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP.

Revanna’s message follows a stern warning from Deve Gowda, who told his grandson to return home and surrender “or face the wrath of his family”.

The allegations against him include rape, sexual assault, undressing women and forcibly filming sexual acts to intimidate the victims.

Prajwal reportedly fled to Germany on April 27, a day after the polls concluded in Hassan, where he was again contesting his seat.

On the instructions of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Interpol had issued a Blue Corner Notice and an arrest warrant from a special court is currently pending.

His father, HD Revanna, a 66-year-old former minister, was arrested by the state police on May 4 in connection with an alleged kidnapping case of a woman who was allegedly raped by Prajwal Revanna. He is currently out on bail.