Prajwal Revanna, the suspended leader of the Janata Dal (Secular) and Member of Parliament, has been arrested upon his return to India. Revanna, facing allegations of sexual abuse, was taken into custody by the special investigation team (SIT) at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport just after midnight. The 33-year-old politician had been in Germany for nearly a month before returning to India on Thursday.
Revanna, the grandson of JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, is accused of sexually abusing multiple women. The allegations came to light after pen drives allegedly containing explicit videos involving Revanna were circulated in Hassan ahead of the second phase of general elections on April 26.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has initiated action to revoke Revanna’s diplomatic passport. Revanna released a video on May 27, days after his grandfather asked him to return to India and face the probe. He apologized to his family, party supporters, and the citizens, claiming that he had been through depression and withdrawn from social interactions.
Revanna also alleged that Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders had initiated discussions on the matter as part of a purported conspiracy. He was expected to be produced in court today.
