Indus Valley Times

KARNATAK, JUN 22 : Police in Karnataka’s Hassan district have registered an FIR against two individuals accused of blackmailing JD(S) MLC Suraj Revanna, the brother of sex crimes-accused former MP Prajwal Revanna, over a false sexual assault allegation.

According to the FIR, Suraj Revanna (36) and his acquaintance Shivakumar filed a complaint against accused Chethan and his brother-in-law, alleging they demanded money in exchange for not defaming Revanna.

The accused, Chethan, initially befriended Shivakumar and requested his help in securing a job, citing financial distress. Shivakumar agreed to introduce Chethan to Revanna during the recent Lok Sabha election period.

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On June 17, Chethan called Shivakumar, claiming he had visited Revanna’s farmhouse the previous day to ask for a job but was turned down. Chethan then allegedly threatened to defame Revanna and his family, stating that he would file a police complaint alleging sexual molestation if his demand for Rs 5 crore was not met.

Chethan allegedly continued to blackmail Shivakumar, reducing his demand to Rs 3 crore and eventually Rs 2.5 crore. His brother-in-law also allegedly participated in the blackmail, sending messages from Chethan’s phone.

On June 19, Chethan again called Shivakumar, threatening to defame Revanna’s family if the money was not paid.

Two days later, Shivakumar and Revanna decided to lodge a complaint against Chethan and his brother-in-law, leading to the registration of the FIR under sections 384 (extortion) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.

ACCUSED ALLEGES ASSAULT AT FARMHOUSE

The accused, Chethan, alleged that Suraj Revanna sexually assaulted him on June 16 at a farmhouse in Gannikada, Hassan district. “He had put his hands on my shoulder and moved his hands everywhere. Thereafter, what shouldn’t have happened, happened to me,” he said.

Chethan claimed that Revanna’s associates tried to blackmail and manipulate him, offering money and a job to cover up the incident.

He initially approached the Holenarasipura Town Police station to file a complaint but was allegedly refused. He then went to the DG office in Bengaluru, where he filed his complaint.

Speaking about the case, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said, “Whoever commits the crime will have to face the law. The investigation is ongoing.”

This development comes just days after former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, accused of rape and sexual abuse, was remanded to judicial custody by a special court in Bengaluru.

Revanna lost his bid to retain the Hassan parliamentary constituency in the recent elections. He was arrested by SIT officials upon his return from Germany on May 31.

The initial arrest stemmed from an April 28 case in Hassan, where he was accused of sexually harassing a former house help. He now faces charges in three separate sexual assault cases, including allegations of rape.

-PTI