"Congress claims more than 2900 victims, where are they?": Kumaraswamy on obscene video case

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], May 9 : HD Kumaraswamy, Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister, lashed out at the ruling Congress in the state on Thursday in connection with the alleged obscene video case involving Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna.
A delegation of the JD(S) met with the Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot and submitted a memorandum urging for an "impartial probe" into the case.
"We have submitted before the Governor all the developments that have taken place in this case till now. We requested him to urge Central government to conduct a fair inquiry into this case. Where is the investigation going? What is Revanna's role in this? Why have they arrested Revanna? The state government is misusing the power. Where are the victims? Congress is saying there are more than 2900 victims, but where are they?" Kumaraswamy asked while speaking to reporters after meeting with the governor.
In the memorandum that was signed by a group of present and former members of the Karnataka Legislature and party leaders, the JD(S) has sought intervention from the governor in recommending the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for "thorough enquiry".
While urging to recommend a CBI probe, the JD(S) in its memorandum alleged that the SIT is "influenced and misguided" by the state government, adding that expecting a "free, fair and impartial enquiry" is impossible in this regard.
"It is brought to the kind notice of the governor that these videos were circulated widely not only in Hassan Parliamentary constituency but also in other Parliamentary constituency through social media platform and pen drives to defame the contesting candidates of NDA alliance," the memorandum mentioned.
"We wish to bring to your kind notice that we welcomed the constitution of SIT as we are not against the investigation into the alleged exploitation of women by Prajwal Revanna and fully support the investigation. Further, our party never supports or tolerates such behaviour and attitudes from our leaders and workers towards women. Accordingly, our party took prompt and quick action to suspend Prajwal Revanna from the party," it added.
The memorandum also targeted Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, accusing the latter of "circulating" the videos in question.
"However, investigations conducted by the SIT are biased and partial and not transparent. Further, the functions and activities of SIT are totally controlled and monitored by the government on a day-to-day basis. The SIT is working at the behest of the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister," the memorandum stated.
"As per the reports, it is alleged that the videos containing obscene scenes of exploited women were circulated at the behest of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar in Hassan Parliamentary constituency and also in Bengaluru Rural Parliamentary constituency from where his brother DK Suresh MP is seeking re-election," it added.
"In the background, it is highly impossible to expect free, fair and impartial inquiry from the Special Investigation Team as the team is influenced and misguided by the state government," it said.
The JD(S) also accused the state government of "failing to stop the circulation" of the alleged videos. "We seek kind intervention in recommending the case for thorough inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation," it stated.
"Conversation between Devaraje Gowda and DK Shivakumar openly exposes collision, conspiracy and involvement of Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar in SIT investigation bringing out vested interest in tarnishing the image of the investigation, bringing out vested interest in tarnishing the image of HD Devegowda, HD Kumaraswamy and also image of JDS party."
"It is a well-known fact that DK Shivakumar is behind the distribution of more than 25,000 pen drives in bus stands, parks and other public places throughout Hassan parliamentary constituency. The state government has utterly failed to stop the circulation of alleged videos, causing a lot of agony, sorrow and indignity to the families of victims," the memorandum read.
The memorandum also appealed to the governor to "advise" the Chief Minister to "drop" his deputy Shivakumar from the cabinet.
"We also appeal to the governor to advise the Chief Minister to drop Shivakumar from the cabinet as he is the mastermind in the circulation of videos containing obscene scenes of women," it said.
Earlier in the day, the National Commission for Women (NCW) took suo motu action in connection with the case. NCW, in a statement on Thursday, said that recent developments regarding the case prompted it to take "swift and decisive action. The NCW has also written to the state DGP, urging "immediate action and accountability" in connection with the case within three days.
NCW, in a statement on Thursday, said that recent developments regarding the case prompted it to take "swift and decisive action. The NCW has also written to the state DGP, urging "immediate action and accountability" in connection with the case within three days.
"The National Commission for Women (NCW) stands firm in its condemnation of any form of violence or sexual abuse perpetrated against women. Recent developments surrounding the Prajjawal Revanna Case have prompted the NCW to take swift and decisive action," the statement said.
"In response to the distressing reports circulating in the media, the NCW initiated suo motu action, demonstrating its unwavering commitment to upholding the rights and dignity of women. A letter was promptly dispatched to the Director General of Police (DGP), urging immediate action and accountability within a stringent timeline of three days," it added.
Prajwal Revanna, the suspended Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) leader, is the incumbent MP from the Hassan constituency. He is seeking re-election as an NDA candidate from the same seat. Polling on the seat was completed on April 26.
Prajwal Revanna, and his father, HD Revanna, are facing a probe by a Special Investigative Team (SIT), constituted by the Karnataka government, over allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation following a complaint by a woman who worked in their household.
HD Revanna has been sent to judicial custody until May 14 in a kidnapping case linked to the "obscene video case," while Prajwal Revanna is in another country.
He was arrested by the special investigation team (SIT) on May 4 in connection with an alleged kidnapping case registered against him at KR Nagar police station in Bengaluru.