Bengaluru: JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy has claimed that 25,000 pen drives with videos of women being sexually abused allegedly by his nephew, Lok Sabha election candidate Prajwal Revanna, were distributed before polls, and accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar of a conspiracy.
The former chief minister also sought to discredit the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Congress government on April 28 to probe the charges against Prajwal of sexually abusing several women after videos allegedly involving him started making the rounds on social media.
"It is not a Special Investigation Team but 'Siddaramaiah Investigation Team' and 'Shivakumar Investigation Team'," the JD(S) second-in-command, who is the son of party supremo and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, said.
MLA H D Revanna and his son and Hassan MP Prajwal have been booked for allegedly molesting their cook. In another case, Revanna has been booked and arrested for allegedly kidnapping a woman who was allegedly sexually assaulted by Prajwal. A case of rape has also been registered against Prajwal.
Addressing a press conference here, Kumaraswamy said the pen drives were circulated by police officers who were "threatened to do it".
“It (pen drive carrying videos) was released in Bengaluru Rural constituency (where the Congress candidate in the Lok Sabha elections is D K Suresh, who is the brother of Shivakumar). This was an April 21 development. On April 22, Poornachandra, our polling agent, gave a complaint to the District Deputy Commissioner, who is the Returning Officer,” the JD(S) leader said.
“Poornachandra received a message at 8 pm on April 21 asking people to 'follow a WhatsApp channel to see Prajwal Revanna’s sleaze video'. There was a message on this WhatsApp channel, 'Countdown for the release of Prajwal’s sleaze videos'," Kumaraswamy further said.
According to Kumaraswamy, one Naveen Gowda had sent the message about the "countdown".
In his complaint to the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police of Hassan district, Poornachandra has named five people including Naveen Gowda, Karthik Gowda (Revanna’s driver), Chethan and Puttaraju alias Putty, he said.
It has been more than a fortnight since the complaint made on April 21 but no action has been taken against these five people, Kumaraswamy said and demanded that they should first be arrested for "mortgaging the modesty" of women in the videos.
Kumaraswamy alleged that 25,000 pen drives were distributed in the entire state, and cited a report in a regional daily to support his claim.
“My question here is why no action was taken. If someone posts something on social media, immediately houses are searched and the person is made to sit in the police station. Why no action was taken against these five people despite a complaint?” he asked.
"Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had confidently said that all the three JD(S) candidates in the Lok Sabha elections will be defeated," Kumaraswamy said, adding, "It raises doubts about the involvement of many people."
On April 25, Karnataka State Commission for Women Chairperson Nagalakshmi Chowdhary wrote to Siddaramaiah demanding an SIT probe into the tapes where Prajwal is allegedly seen sexually abusing several women. The same night, the CM gave his nod and ordered the formation of a SIT, Kumaraswamy said.
“In that letter, Nagalakshmi Chowdhary did not mention the name of Prajwal or Revanna but the chief minister called it ‘Prajwal Revanna’s explicit videos’ in his post on X when he announced the formation of SIT. This shows how the conspiracy was hatched,” the JD(S) leader claimed.
He also alleged that the first complaint "framing" his brother H D Revanna and nephew Prajwal was typed on a computer in Bengaluru and was sent to Holenarasipura, which is represented in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly by Revanna, on April 28.
“It’s not a Special Investigation Team but there are two teams within it – one is ‘Siddaramaiah Investigation Team’ and another one is ‘Shivakumar Investigation Team’,” he charged.
He said the ‘convenor’ of the 'pen drive story', Karthik Gowda should be traced first and brought before the people.
“Going through the conspiracies, one can doubt the intention behind the investigation because more than protecting the women victims, you are limiting the scope of the probe only to defame people,” Kumaraswamy further alleged.
He underlined that he was not trying to protect anyone. “I have said that in this case I will not protect anyone doing wrong. Stringent punishment should be given to the person involved in this crime as per the law of land."
Comments
Ha Ha....Good Governance, development, 100% corruption.......all are in mind of you Saffron supporters dear...not visible in the country... Modi himself said he cannot do it in few begining years.....come on......
Where are the first promises then....
Bring back black money............. Where are the 15 lacks saved for each of us...? can i borrow 1 lack....? As you guys the the Goongress ruled the country for 60 years....and after 40 years, for the last twenty years only you guys realized that they are feku....same let BJP move little ahead and then we will see, just after 5 years how many gotala will come out.....just sarted with fake promises and fake degree certificates, serial actresses and masala actors started becoming Members of our respected parliament....
Congress already feku......BJP Aur Bada Feku.......
God Save our nation.
When Modi govt can bring changes in 2 years what congress was doing since last 60 yrs. Loot lethargy corruption?
Good job done by Modi Govt in 2 years. Only one request kindly increase the interest rate in bank FD,PPF,Post office MIS.
This is how #Feku will bring back Black Money: Black Money account holder Amitabh Bachchan host Modi govt's 2 years gala.
2 Years Of PM narendra modi Led BJP Government-but Presstitutes Media will not show you real picture of Modi Govt.
congratulations for successful 2 years.
Corruption Free & Development Paced 2years of Modi led BJP Govt in India.100% marks for Good & Visible Governance in India
In 2years of Modi govt, corruption has no place in the govt and word corruption is completely removed from the dictionary
modi gov BJP won the election and only fooled Indian people ,
ab ki baar modi sarkaar , we will bring black money
all holding the fake certificates...
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