Lookout notice against Janata Dal Secular MP Prajwal Revanna in sex abuse allegations
Bengaluru: A lookout notice has been issued against Janata Dal Secular MP Prajwal Revanna amid the political turbulence in a sexual harassment accusation against him and his father HD Revanna, media reports said.
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara stated that Revanna must immediately appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to enquire, reported NDTV.
He added that failure to appear before the SIT may result in his arrest. Earlier, the SIT rejected his plea for a seven-day extension to meet with investigators.
"They have to appear. If they don't, they would be arrested," the minister said, referring to Prajwal Revanna and HD Revanna, reported NDTV.
Prajwal Revanna, 33, is the grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda.
He has found himself embroiled in a controversy following allegations of sexual harassment made against him and his father, HD Revanna, by a woman, who claims to have been employed as a cook at the Revanna household.
She also alleges that the JDS MP harassed her daughter, contacting her through video calls.
Several videos allegedly showing Prajwal Revanna engaged in obscene acts have surfaced online, adding to the controversy.
Prajwal Revanna's counsel Arun G said the case has several aspects, that need to be addressed.
"He has said that he needs 7 days to come and cooperate with the investigation. I feel accommodating seven days should not cause any serious difficulty to the investigation," he was quoted as saying by NDTV.
Meanwhile, the accusations have ignited a huge political feud during the election period.
The JDS has formed a strategic alliance with the BJP for the Lok Sabha elections. The allegations against Prajwal Revanna have prompted the Congress to launch a full-scale assault against the BJP.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has directly targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, questioning his apparent silence on the matter.
She said the leader whom the PM publicly supports, campaigns for, and praises on stage just days before the election, is now evading the country's authorities. “The gravity of his alleged crimes is deeply disturbing. He has caused untold suffering to countless women. Will Modi ji continue to remain silent?" This statement was made in a post on X.
Retaliating against these attacks, Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that the BJP cannot ally with people accused of such heinous acts against women.
He further questioned why the Congress-led government in Karnataka had not taken action against Revanna earlier.