The political scene in Karnataka has been rocked by a sex tape scandal allegedly featuring BJP-JD(S) alliance candidate Prajwal Revanna. JDS has since suspended him. Currently, Prajwal is abroad, reportedly in Germany.
An FIR has been filed against Prajwal Revanna and his father H.D. Revanna on allegations of sexual harassment by their house maid. Various videos and pictures have allegedly surfaced as part of the investigation.
A pandemonium has ensued following the release of a series of videos where Prajwal Revanna is seen engaging in what appears to be sexual exploitation of women.
The scandal led to the formation of an SIT by the Siddaramaiah government to probe the matter. Karnataka's Home Minister G. Parameshwara has stated that action will also be taken against those who filmed the videos, appeared in them, and circulated them. However, Prajwal claims that the videos were tampered with to tarnish his image.
The President of the Karnataka Women's Commission, Nagalakshmi Chaudhary, has dubbed it the country's biggest sex scandal. Let's delve into how it unfolded layer by layer.
The Case in June 2023
Last year in June, Prajwal filed a lawsuit against 86 media outlets and three individuals in Bengaluru Civil Court, seeking to halt the propagation of fake news and manipulated videos against him.
On June 2nd, 2023, the Civil Court ordered a halt on their dissemination, citing the potential risk of further damage.
The Indian Express reports that one of the three individuals named in the lawsuit was Prajwal’s former driver, who quit his job in March 2023, after having worked with the family for several years. It is speculated that the driver had access to Prajwal’s phone and electronic devices. Friction between Prajwal and the driver led to alleged threats over the video leaks.
Source: aajtak
The Scandal Deepens with Driver’s Revelation!
The former driver's involvement has become a pivotal point in the case. The BJP leader, Devaraje Gowda, mentioned in his letter that he received the controversial pen drive from Prajwal's former driver. The driver alleged harassment by the Revanna family over a land dispute.
Devaraje informed that the driver had also sent these videos to Congress leaders D.K. Shivakumar and his brother D.K. Suresh.
The driver contends that he's been fooled by Devaraje Gowda, who failed to act as promised and has not responded to the latest attempts for contact over the contentious pen drive.
Source: aajtak
Housemaid's Complaint Shatters Silence
On April 28, a maid working at Revanna's residence lodged a complaint. She accused H.D. Revanna and his son Prajwal of sexual harassment, claiming the tumult began during the wedding of Revanna’s son Surf in 2019 – the event when she started working there.
According to the FIR, the victim, said to be related to Revanna's wife, Bhavani, claimed that Revanna would call her to the storeroom in his wife's absence and engage in inappropriate physical conduct.
Source: aajtak
Revanna Responds to Accusations
H.D. Revanna, representing the Holenarasipura constituency, claims the viral videos are years old. He defers further comment, citing the ongoing SIT investigation.
Prajwal Revanna, now an NDA candidate for Hasan, had filed a case under the IT act through his agent, alleging video tampering.
After the voting concluded on April 26th, Revanna Junior allegedly left for Germany. His father, H.D. Revanna, asserts that Prajwal often travels unannounced and was unaware of the impending FIR.
What's Next for This Scandal?
Two FIRs are in play: one against H.D. Revanna and his son, and another against Nikhil Gowda, filed by Prajwal, alleging video tampering.
The SIT, divided into three teams, is investigating these complex facets ranging from sexual harassment and victim statements to in-depth analysis of the videos and pen drives.
A multifaceted investigation is underway, with the authorities dissecting this intricate scandal, promising a thorough look into all aspects of the case to ascertain the truth.
