The JD(S) on Tuesday suspended its MP and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda's grandson Prajwal Revanna from the party over allegations of sexual abuse. JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said the decision was taken as the party was against "injustice" towards women.
Indicating a conspiracy against the JD(S), Kumaraswamy said the obscene videos were released just five days before polling in Hassan constituency. Prajwal Revanna was the NDA candidate from Hassan, which went to polls in the second phase on April 26.
"The victims haven't complained to the government till now. The state women's commission has written a letter to the Chief Minister on this matter. Post that, the CM announced an SIT," Kumaraswamy, Prajwal Revanna's uncle, said.
As the explicit video clips allegedly involving Prajwal started making the rounds in Hassan, the JD(S) MP reportedly left the country for Germany. The videos depicted Revanna allegedly engaging in acts of sexual abuse against multiple women.
Amid the controversy, a woman who worked in Prajwal's household, accused the MP and his father - JD(S) MLA and former minister HD Revanna - of sexual harassment. Following the woman's complaint, a case has been registered against the duo.
Alleging there was "politics" behind the issue, HD Revanna, the elder son of JD(S) patriarch Deve Gowda, said he was open to an investigation over the allegations of sexual abuse. Revanna also said he and his son were ready to face action as per law if the charges were proved.
Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has sought a report within three days from the Karnataka police on the matter.
The JDS, which has allied with the BJP for the Lok Sha election, has refused to comment pending a complete inquiry. However, senior party leader and former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy - who is Deve Gowda's son - said there could be no question of forgiving anyone who had committed a crime.
The row has also snowballed into a political squabble between the JDS and the BJP, with some of the national party's leaders distancing themselves from the state party and calling for a rethink. S Prakash, the BJP state unit's chief spokesperson, said, "We, as a party, have nothing to do with the videos and neither do we have any comments to make..."
