Indus Valley Times

NEW DELHI, MAY 27: The Janata Dal (Secular) MP from Hassan, Prajwal Revanna, who has been accused of sexually harassing several women, released a video on Monday in which he promised to appear before the SIT on May 31 and fully cooperate in the investigation.

Grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, Prajwal is the central figure in the mass sexual abuse case and was said to have fled India on April 27, a day after voting got over in his Lok Sabha constituency.

While apologising to his grandfather, JD(S) chief HD Deve Gowda, uncle HD Kumaraswamy, father HD Revanna, party workers and citizens in the video, Prajwal said his trip to Germany was pre-planned and that he will appear before the SIT on May 31 before 10 am to answer the charges laid against him.

He said that he saw “videos about the allegations on YouTube and news channels” only 3-4 days after he left. Claiming that the allegations are false, he said that Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders are tarnishing his and his family’s image which has caused him depression and a lot of stress. He said he and his family “were condemned in public even after his lawyer sought seven days time from court.”

Deve Gowda had on May 25, issued a strict warning to Prajwal asking him to return to the country and face the law for his alleged involvement in the sexual assault case. The move by the former PM was seen by many as an effort to salvage his personal image, and that of his family and party, both of which had taken a severe beating.

“It is of utmost importance to me to earn back the trust of the people. They have stood by me for over 60 years of my political life and I am deeply indebted to them. As long as I am alive, I will never let them down,” Gowda had stated after staying silent for three weeks.

Deve Gowda’s warning to Prajwal Revanna an attempt to salvage JDS’ image

“The law will take care of accusations against him, but not listening to the family (to return) will ensure his total isolation,” Gowda had said.

Former CM and Prajwal’s uncle HD Kumaraswamy in his reaction to the video said he, his family and party members are relieved now.

Kumaraswamy told reporters that he too had appealed in public to Prajwal to appear before SIT. “We had told Prajwal to come back respecting our party workers’ wishes. He has accepted it and told me that he will be coming back. We are feeling relieved now.”

When asked about Prajwal’s allegation of the cases being a conspiracy against him, Kumaraswamy said, “The Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigation will reveal the truth.”

To and fro over non-cancellation of diplomatic passport

Prajwal’s video comes as the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that it was processing the request for cancellation of Prajwal’s diplomatic passport.

There had earlier been a to and fro between the state and central government over the non-cancellation of Prajwal’s passport.

After External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on May 25 that his ministry received a request to impound the diplomatic passport of Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna only on May 21, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah claimed that he had written the letter to MEA 15 days ago.

“These incidents have not only shocked the conscience of the people of the state of Karnataka but also caused nationwide concern,” Siddaramaiah had written in another letter sent on May 23.

-The New Indian Express