- By Shivam Shandilya
- Thu, 23 May 2024 05:30 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Former prime minister Deve Gowda on Thursday warned his grandson and Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna to return to India and face probe over the sexual abuse allegations against him. Issuing a "stern warning", Gowda asked his grandson to surrender before the police and asked him to go through the legal process. The former PM warned Prajwal that he would face "total isolation" by the family if he does not heed his words. Prajwal had reportedly fled to Germany in the last week of April, after allegations of sexual assault surfaced against him.
"If he does not heed this warning, he will have to face my anger and anger of all his family members. The law will take care of the accusations against him, but not listening to the family will ensure his total isolation. If he has any respect left for me, he has to return immediately," Gowda said.
The 92-year-old politician further assured that he or his family would not interfere in the enquiry against Prajwal. "There is no emotion in this regard in my mind whatsoever, there is only the cause of justice for those who have suffered as a result of his alleged actions and misdeeds," he said.
The JDS patriarch expressed anguish over the situation, saying, "It took me some time to recover from the shock and pain he (Prajwal) has inflicted on me, my entire family, my colleagues, friends and party workers. I have already said he should be given the harshest punishment under the law if found guilty."
Earlier, JDS youth wing President Nikhil Kumaraswamy also appealed his cousin Prajwal to return from wherever he was and face the probe. Prajwal Revanna is the prime accused in the sex videos case in Karnataka. Speaking to the media, actor-turned-politician Nikhil, the son of former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, said, "If allegations are levelled, we need to face them. In this context, the Hassan MP (Prajwal Revanna) should return to the country from wherever he is and face the probe."
JDS state president Kumaraswamy had twice appealed to Prajwal Revanna through the media to return to the country and appear before the SIT if he had any respect for him and former PM HD Deve Gowda.
Meanwhile, taking objection to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah writing repeatedly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding the cancellation of the Diplomatic Passport, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi stated that there are established procedures for the cancellation of passports.
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to cancel the Diplomatic Passport of Prajwal. In his letter to the Prime Minister, he said that it is shameful that Prajwal Revanna fled the country on April 27, 2024, to Germany using his diplomatic passport shortly after news of his heinous actions emerged and just a few hours before the first FIR was filed against him.
Siddaramaiah expressed his concern that despite the issue of a Look Out Circular, a Blue Corner Notice, and two notices by the Investigating Officer, Prajwal Revanna has managed to remain in hiding to this day.
HD Revanna and his son, Prajwal Revanna, are facing a probe by an SIT constituted by the Karnataka government over allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation following a complaint by a woman who worked in their household. H D Revanna, who is an MLA from Holenarasipura, has been released on bail in two cases, including molestation of a cook and kidnap of a woman.
Prajwal has been absconding since the release of a huge cache of explicit videos where he was seen sexually assaulting hundreds of women. The now suspended Hassan MP was seeking re-election as an NDA candidate. There are two rape cases registered against Prajwal. The JDS leader faces an arrest warrant besides a blue corner notice by the Interpol.