SIT questions Prajwal Revanna; says Hassan MP likely to undergo potency test

BEGALURU: Suspended JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, who is facing allegations of sexually abusing several women, was questioned after hearing from the Special Investigation Team (SIT). arrested him as soon as he landed at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru in the early hours of Friday.

As previously reported by TNIEThe 33-year-old MP, who had travelled from Munich, was brought to the CID office He will be produced before a special court for questioning, where the SIT is likely to seek his detention for further questioning.

According to sources, the SIT is also considering subjecting Prajwal to a potency test in due course. A potency test is conducted to determine whether a rape accused is capable of sexually abusing victims.

The Special Court for Public Representatives will also hear the bail application of Prajwal and his mother Bhavani Revanna on Friday.

Prajwal is accused in three cases of sexual abuse, while his mother has sought interim bail in an alleged kidnapping case. Although Bhavani is not an accused in the case, the SIT has reportedly wanted to investigate her role.

In the same case, Bhavani’s husband and Holenarasipura MP HD Revanna, the son of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, was arrested and later released on bail. He is also accused of sexually harassing the cook of his house, who in turn was sexually abused by his son Prajwal.

Prajwal’s lawyer said that the MP was fully cooperating with the SIT and that he had requested that there be no media trial.

Stating that Prajwal was arrested in connection with a case pending against him in Holenarasipura, lawyer Arun G said, “One has to wait and see what happens with MP Hassan’s bail application pending before the court.”

“I spoke to him. He asked the media to cooperate in the investigation. He asked that there should be no trial in the media. There should be no unnecessary negative campaign,” said Arun.

Talking to reporters after his meeting with Prajwal here, he said the Hassan MP expressed his full cooperation to the SIT.

“Prajwal said, ‘I have come forward. The only reason I have come to Bengaluru or before the SIT is because I have to stand by my word. I have come forward. I will give my full cooperation. These are his words,’ he added.

“Will provide survivors with all protection”

Meanwhile, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said further legal action would follow regarding Prajwal’s arrest.

“Prajwal Revanna landed from Munich between 12:40 and 12:50 am. Since there was an arrest warrant against him, the SIT arrested him and took him into custody. Further legal action will be taken today. I have to discuss this with our officials,” he said.

He told reporters, “So far, the only information is that he (Prajwal) has come. He has been arrested and as per law, action has to be taken such as medical examination and his production in court. All these procedures will follow, including his questioning.”

“…of course he should have cooperated with the arrest. His immigration papers were checked and he was taken away (from the airport). Since he had a diplomatic passport, everything went smoothly and after completing all the necessary procedures he was arrested,” he added.

Asked if the government would ask other victims to come forward after Prajwal’s arrest, Parameshwara said, “We have already said that those who got into trouble because of him should come forward and file a complaint with the SIT and the police and we will provide them with all the protection. We have to wait and watch further developments.”

Responding to a question about reports that Prajwal had destroyed evidence on his phone and claimed to have lost the phone, the minister said he was not aware of it and had not heard anything from the SIT about it.

Asked if there was any delay in the arrest, the Home Minister said if Prajwal was in the country or the state, a team could have been sent to arrest him, but since he was abroad, certain procedures had to be followed.

“So Interpol was informed about the CBI and a Blue Corner Notice was issued against him. These procedures were followed. Knowing all these things and thinking that in case of Lok Sabha election result, his diplomatic passport would be revoked and he would have to come back, he made a video statement saying that he would surrender on May 31. Now he has come. This will help the SIT in the investigation,” he added.

The 33-year-old Prajwal, grandson of JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and the BJP-JD(S) alliance Lok Sabha candidate Hassan is accused of sexually abusing numerous women. He has so far been charged in three cases of sexual assault.

He is also accused of rape.

The sexual abuse cases came to light after several USB sticks allegedly containing explicit videos featuring Prajwal were circulated in Hassan ahead of the April 26 Lok Sabha elections.

He had left for Germany on April 27, one day after Hassan voted.

Earlier, Interpol had issued a Blue Corner Notice seeking information on his whereabouts following a request from the SIT through the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

A Blue Corner Notice is issued by the international organisation for police cooperation to collect additional information from its member countries about the identity, whereabouts or activities of a person in connection with a crime.

A special court for elected representatives issued an arrest warrant against Prajwal on May 18 following a request from the SIT. The Congress-led Karnataka government asked the central government to cancel his diplomatic passport.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has served a notice to Prajwal asking him why his diplomatic passport should not be cancelled, as demanded by the Karnataka government, in light of the allegations of sexual abuse against him.