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
9/11 caused more Americans to embrace Islam.
The same thing happens here, more Truth Loving people start researching the speech of Zakir Naik and will easily embracing Islam.
Indians are more free and intelligent in deciding.
Unfortunately the RSS lead govt can detain him under pretext of so called all allegation, even without proof.
We have some blind law where innocent people become easy prey.
Such law is made to target the people who talks truth against the corrupt leaders.
Laks...Karkala.....
Every one knows you hypocrites are experts in fabricating proofs and give clean chit to criminals ...... Indians can eat indian cow meat in Gulf BUT not in India.... Go to Google and find out the names of Indians in the list of TOP CRIMINALS of the world ....Hypocrite ....
Laks, Karkala
From your frustrated comments i can understand that you are so far from the reality. Not a single proof can indian govt can show against Dr.Zakir naik. Even nobody can have the guts to have debate with zakir naik. so will wait and watch.
Laks, Zakir Naik did not trouble anyone...when he was preaching around everyone lived very happily here in India....He conveyed peace message to everyone...
Dear Altaf,
Dont teach us what to ban...Our present government have enough proof to put him behind the bar...and your lawyer is der to protect him..so leave it to court
Sitting in Doha its easy for you to comment
Basically it is not the matter of scare. In the recent years we have noticed that the Muslims are targeted & put behind bars without any evidence.
Later it is proved that the RSS goons are involved in the terror activity across the country. But they are not booked in any case.
These types of double standard Judicial System makes the Muslims to be away for certain period. I hope very soon Br. Zakir Naik we get justice & start spreading the peace message.
Mr. Zakir Naik's Preaching, Knowledge and popularity not gone well with sick minds, they cannot counter him through dialogue; obviously misuse of power is the solution!!!
Laks, Karkala
If you really wish to see that everyone in india should leave happily then you have to think about banning RSS and sangh parivar. Zakir naik never done anything so that hindus and muslim divide. He always tried to unite all religion. I think you have not listened to any of his speeches. My sincere request with you is to first listen his all complete speeches. Then come to conclusion.
Please watch the below videos. It is available in Youtube
1.Similarities between Hinduism and Islam
2.Similarities between Islam and Christianity
3.Does God Exits
4.Is terrorism a muslim monopoly
Hope after watching the above you can change your thinking from negative to positive .
Over all this is a political game with the backing of rss communal group.
Started to target peace loving INDIANS and Mr. ZN is on top of their list.
There is many more to come from religious leader to business man;social worker; leading person etc.
Instead of 5 years high court need to ban for life time... so that everyone can leave happily in India
ZN is scared..he will not come back to india.. if he was Innocent he could have came back long back ago...
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