JD(S) welcomes SIT probe into alleged video case against MP Prajwal Revanna
Apr 28, 2024
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], April 28 : A day after the Karnataka government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged obscene video case involving Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, the Janata Dal (Secular) welcomed the decision on Sunday.
Welcoming the SIT probe, JD(S) core committee chairman and senior leader GT Devegowda said that the party will call a meeting to discuss action on the issue.
"I don't blame the government for announcing the SIT investigation. We will sit and decide what action needs to be taken over the issue of Prajwal Revanna. For now, I will just say that I welcome the SIT investigation," Devegowda said.
Former Chief Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy distanced himself from the issue.
"Whether it is me or HD Deve Gowda, we always respect women and whenever they come with complaints, we have tried to resolve their problems. The CM has already ordered an SIT investigation and the SIT investigation has started. The SIT team will bring him back from abroad. That's not my concern," Kumaraswamy said.
"If he has gone to another country, then the government will bring him back. I have nothing to do with it," the former CM said.
JDS leader TA Saravana said, "We are welcoming the SIT investigation. Our supremo HD Deve Gowda and our leader HD Kumaraswamy and all office bearers will sit and decide on this."
Amid the controversy, the BJP, which is an ally of JD(S) in Karnataka, also distanced itself from the issue. While Revanna is seeking a fresh term in the Lower House from Hassan as a candidate of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and is pitted against Congress' Shreyas Patel.
"We, as a party, have nothing to do with the videos and neither do we have any comments to make on the SIT probe announced by the state government into the alleged sex scandal involving Prajwal Revanna," S Prakash, the chief spokesperson of BJP's state unit said on Sunday.
The three-member SIT formed by the state government will be headed by IPS officer Vijay Kumar Singh. DG CID Suman D Pennekar and IPS officer Seema Latkar will be members of the team.
This case has been registered at Holenarasipur police station under sections 354 A, 354 D, 506, and 509 of the IPC.
Earlier on Saturday, announcing his decision to set up an SIT to probe the issue, Chief Siddaramaiah in a post on X stated, "The government has decided to form a special investigation team in connection with Prajwal Revanna's obscene video case. Obscene video clips are circulating in Hassan district, where it appears that women have been sexually assaulted."
"In this background, the Chairperson of the Women's Commission had written a letter to the government to conduct an SIT investigation. This decision has been taken in response to their request," the post stated further.
Earlier on April 25, the Women's Commission Chairperson requested Siddaramaiah to initiate an SIT probe after objectionable videos began circulating on social media allegedly involving the JD(S) legislator.