Prajwal arrested from Bengaluru airport; medical test, court hearing today
Prajwal Revanna, suspended leader of the Janata Dal (Secular) who is facing sexual assault charges, was arrested by the Karnataka Police after he arrived at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport in the early hours of Friday. Upon receiving information from Interpol on Thursday afternoon about his arrival, a Karnataka Police Special Investigation Team (SIT), the Bengaluru police, and immigration authorities prepared to arrest the Hassan MP at the airport. He was subsequently taken into custody by the SIT.
Why does this story matter?
The 33-year-old grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda faces charges of criminal intimidation, sexual harassment, and stalking after thousands of videos surfaced showing him in sexual acts with multiple women. He left the country on April 27 after videos of him sexually abusing multiple women surfaced—a day after polling for the second phase of Lok Sabha elections. Notably, Prajwal is the Bharatiya Janata Party led-National Democratic Alliance's candidate from Hassan seat.
SIT executes Revanna's arrest
An SIT officer revealed that Prajwal would first undergo a medical examination at Bengaluru's Bowring Hospital before being presented to a magistrate for his custody. The SIT also confiscated Prajwal's mobile phone and two suitcases. Separately, Prajwal's anticipatory bail plea was scheduled to be heard in a Bengaluru session court on Friday. In his plea, he denied all allegations and suggested they were politically motivated. "The electronic evidence presented is fabricated to support a false case," the plea said.
Travel abroad pre-planned: Prajwal
He maintained his travel abroad was pre-planned and unrelated to the charges. Prajwal had issued a video statement this week saying he would present himself before the SIT at 10am on May 31. Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Thursday that Prajwal would be arrested upon landing in India, since an "arrest warrant has already been issued against him."
MEA initiates action to revoke Prajwal's diplomatic passport
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs has begun proceedings to revoke the diplomatic passport of Prajwal. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal has said a showcause notice was issued to Prajwal on May 23—providing him a 10-day window to justify why his passport should not be canceled. To recall, MLA HD Revanna—Prajwal's father—is also facing two cases. One involves the molestation of a cook—who was allegedly raped by Prajwal—and the other involving the kidnapping of a woman. Revanna is currently out on bail.
