Siddaramaiah seeks Centre's cooperation in SIT probe of Prajwal Revanna

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], May 6 : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday underscored the necessity for the central government's cooperation in bringing Prajwal Revanna, back to the country for questioning in the allegations of sexual abuse case.
"The success of the SIT investigation is now entirely dependent on the cooperation of the Central Government. The central government should cooperate in bringing the accused Prajwal Revanna, who is said to be abroad, to India. BJP, which still has a political alliance with JDS, needs to clarify its stand," Siddaramaiah on Monday said in a post on X.
Siddaramaiah also dismissed Karnataka BJP leader Devaraj Gowda's claim that the Special Investigation Team tasked with investigating allegations of sexual assault against MP Prajwal Revanna "is a rubber stamp of the government" saying that the allegation is "a ploy to avoid investigation with malicious intent to protect criminals."
"SIT is working on remote control. BJP Karnataka leader Devaraj Gowda's allegation that it is a rubber stamp of the government is completely untrue. It is a ploy to avoid investigation with malicious intent to protect criminals.
SIT is working in full transparency. The government is bound to prosecute the culprits, however influential they may be. It is with this objective in mind that SIT has been formed by including selected efficient officers," he said in the post.
"There is no point in BJP leaders now shouting that PM Narendra Modi's name is being tarnished due to this case, this should have been thought of while allying with JD(S)," he added in the post.
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party leader and lawyer, Devaraje Gowda alleged on Monday, that the Karnataka government is trying to bring the name of BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Prajwal Revanna's obscene video' case.
He also termed the SIT team investigating the case as a "remote-controlled team" of the state government.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, Devaraje Gowda said, "Till yesterday evening they (Karnataka government) tried to convince me and came to me with deals. When I didn't accept their deals, the CM called SIT officials to meet. Their agenda is to bring PM Modi's name in this case as JD-S and BJP have an alliance in the state."
"Deputy CM DK Shivakumar also sent me many offers to not release any names from the Congress Govt through LR Shivrame Gowda. I welcome if the government, CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar file a defamation case against me. I'll answer in court," he added.
Stating that "I am fighting for my life long" against HD Revanna and Prajwal Revanna, but also adding that some "criminal politicians" are using it for other reasons.
He added that he initially felt the SIT team would do justice with the case, but when he was called for the second time, he realised this was a "remote-controlled team."
"The state government, CM and Deputy CM called senior officials meeting on Sunday, related to Prajwal and HD Revanna case and they have given many instructions," he said.
The BJP leader further alleged, "Suman D Pannekar, IPS officer one of the in charge of this case and member of SIT asked me to not to take DK Shivakumar and not to take congress leaders names."
BJP leader and advocate Vivek Reddy said that Devaraje Gowda's remarks mean there is an attempt to "suppress the evidence" and demanded a CBI inquiry in the matter.
"From what is transpired from advocate Devaraje Gowda's revelations is that there is an effort to ensure that in the pen drive case, big political names are not to be mentioned...There is DK Shivakumar and others whom Devaraje Gowda wanted to mention in the statements so there is an attempt to suppress evidence," he said.
"So, we are asking for a CBI inquiry, if not, the High Court may direct an independent agency supervised by a retired high court judge," Reddy added.
However, the Congress party has trashed all the allegations made by Deveraje Gowda terming it a "bundle of lies". Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said he would reveal what Gowda said to him tomorrow.
"I came to know that BJP Leader Devaraje Gowda did a press conference which is filled with lies, I'm not in town or else I would have spoken to the media. Whatever allegations he has made, all are bundles of lies. He tried to meet me and he said he would reveal all the truths about the pen drive, internal issues of the BJP and many other things. I'll come to Bengaluru tomorrow and I'll let you all know what he said on the phone," Shivakumar said.
"I don't have any relation with him, whatever he has spoken all are far from the truth. BJP and JDS are doing this kind of conspiracy, let them do whatever they want. You all know Devaraje Gowda in the past and what all he had spoken to media, everything is with media, you can read it," he 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.
HD Revanna and his son, Prajwal 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 is under Special Investigation Team (SIT) custody till May 8 in a kidnapping case linked to the "obscene video case", while Prajwal Revanna has fled to another country.