JD(S) MLC Suraj Revanna, accused of sexually abusing male party worker, sent to jail

Bengaluru: JD(S) MLC Suraj Revanna, accused of sexually assaulting a man at his farmhouse in Holenarasipura, Hassan, was remanded in judicial custody on Sunday.

Suraj, a medical doctor by training, was arrested in Hassan on Sunday morning and brought to Bengaluru in the evening. The 36-year-old was later produced at the magistrate's residence in Koramangala. The judge remanded him in custody for 14 days.

On June 22, Holenarasipura police booked Suraj under IPC sections 377 (unnatural offences), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) after a 27-year-old male JD(S) worker filed a police complaint, accusing the politician of sexually assaulting him on June 16.

The survivor had previously written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Home Minister G Parameshwara, DG&IGP Alok Mohan and Hassan SP Mohammed Sujeetha M S.

On Sunday, the Karnataka government transferred the case to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Well-placed sources said the CID would take Suraj into custody soon.

On June 21, Suraj's close aide Shivakumar filed a police complaint accusing the survivor and his brother-in-law of attempting to extort money from the MLC. Based on Shivakumar's complaint, Holenarasipura Town police opened a case under IPC sections 384 (extortion), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (involvement of others in the conspiracy).

Suraj, married in 2018, was divorced soon after.

No comment from HDK

Union Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries H D Kumaraswamy, who is the brother of HD Revanna, refused to react on the incident.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Sunday, Kumaraswamy said he doesn't want to comment. "Why you want me to react on the issue? It's not related to me, law will take its own course," he said.

Kumaraswamy even asked the media to ask him about issues pertaining to the state and not other issues.