BENGALURU – Suspended Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) leader and rape-accused Member of Parliament (MP) Prajwal Revanna was arrested early Friday morning at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda Airport upon his return from Germany. A three-member team of female police officers took Revanna into custody at 12:45 am, marking a significant step in the high-profile case.
Revanna’s arrest has been met with praise, particularly from former Bengaluru top cop-turned-politician K Bhaskar Rao, who called the involvement of female officers a “positive sign” of Karnataka’s strong police force. Rao emphasized that this action sends a strong message to women across the state about the commitment to justice and accountability.
Following his arrest, Revanna was transported to a city hospital for a routine medical check-up before being presented in court for a remand hearing. The police requested a 14-day custody period to thoroughly investigate the case. They aim to examine Revanna’s mobile phone, conduct forensic analysis of voice samples, and review materials seized from his luggage and a raid on his home in Hassan.
Despite his lawyers’ arguments that one day of custody was sufficient, the court has granted police custody until June 6. Revanna will be taken to Hassan for further investigation.
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Recap of the Case
Revanna fled to Germany shortly after several videos allegedly showing him forcing women into sex acts emerged. He left India on a diplomatic passport, using his status as an MP. As the outgoing MP from Hassan, Revanna had been eyeing a re-election with the support of the JDS’s new ally, the BJP.
The Congress government in Karnataka has been striving to bring Revanna back, accusing the BJP of delaying the cancellation of his diplomatic passport. The central government countered by stating they received a request on May 21 and issued a show-cause notice to Revanna within 48 hours. However, no mention was made of two letters Chief Minister Siddaramaiah claimed to have sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The BJP has distanced itself from Revanna. State unit chief S Prakash stated, “We, as a party, have nothing to do with the videos and neither do we have any comments to make…”
On Monday, Revanna released a video on social media platform X, apologizing to his parents and expressing his intention to cooperate with the investigation. This statement followed a stern warning from his grandfather, JDS patriarch and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, urging him to return to India or face familial repercussions.
Allegations and Charges
Revanna faces multiple serious allegations. On April 27, shortly after the initial accusations surfaced, Revanna left for Munich. The ruling Congress formed a special police team based on complaints from the state’s Women’s Commission, leading to the first case against him.
The first case involves a 47-year-old former maid who accused Revanna and his father, HD Revanna, of sexual assault and exploitation. HD Revanna was arrested as the primary accused, with rape charges later added against Prajwal Revanna.
A second case, registered on May 1, involves a 44-year-old woman, possibly a JDS worker, who accused Revanna of multiple rapes, including one instance at gunpoint.
The third case, filed on May 3, involves a 60-year-old woman accusing Revanna of rape. Revanna has consistently denied all charges, claiming they are part of a conspiracy by his political rivals.
As the investigation continues, the focus remains on gathering substantial evidence and ensuring justice for the alleged victims. The police are committed to a thorough examination of the case, which has captured significant public and political attention.
