A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Criminal Investigation Department in India has filed a charge sheet against former MP Prajwal Revanna, accusing him of rape, and his father, MLA H D Revanna, for sexual harassment. This follows an extensive investigation into four cases involving Prajwal, resulting in a charge sheet exceeding 2,000 pages and including statements from over 150 witnesses.
The SIT’s investigation alleges that Prajwal Revanna, who is the son of former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader H D Deve Gowda, sexually assaulted a domestic helper of the family. The charge sheet also includes a wealth of evidence, ranging from spot inspections to biological, physical, scientific, mobile, and digital data. The SIT further stated that expert opinions were sought before filing the charge sheet, which has been submitted to a special court for public representatives.
The charges against Prajwal Revanna include sections 376, 376 (2)(K), 354, 354(A), and 354(B) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which pertain to rape, sexual assault, and harassment. Meanwhile, his father, MLA Revanna, has been charged under sections 354 and 354 (A) of the IPC, concerning sexual harassment.
The initial complaint against the father-son duo originated from the domestic helper, a relative of MLA Bhavani’s wife, who claimed she was sexually harassed on multiple occasions. Further accusations emerged against Prajwal, who recently ran as an NDA candidate in the Lok Sabha election from Hassan but lost. Shortly before the second phase of the Lok Sabha election on April 26, explicit videos allegedly showing Prajwal assaulting multiple women surfaced online. This prompted Nagalakshmi Chowdhary, Chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Women, to request an investigation from the Congress government, ultimately leading to the official inquiry and subsequent charges.
