Hassan sex scandal: SIT arrests JD(S) leader H D Revanna in kidnapping case

Bengaluru: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Hassan sex scandal on Saturday arrested Holenarasipur JD(S) MLA H D Revanna from his father former Prime Minister and JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda’s house in Padmanabha Nagar in Bengaluru.

Sources confirmed that Revanna was arrested in connection with a kidnapping case registered by the KR Nagar police in Mysuru involving the survivor of a sexual assault allegedly by his son, Hassan JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, who remained at large.

Revanna was arrested on Saturday evening after he was denied interim relief by a special court in connection with the kidnapping case. Drama ensued at the former PM’s residence for nearly 15 minutes as the gates were unopened. At around 6.50 pm, Revanna stepped out of the house and was arrested. Revanna had failed to appear before the SIT, which had served him two notices of appearance.

Revanna had filed a petition seeking anticipatory bail in the FIR with non-bailable offences under IPC sections 364A (abduction) and 365 (illegal confinement).

It was claimed on behalf of Revanna that there are no allegations in the complaint to directly connect the petitioner. It was contended that the invocation of section 364A of IPC is due to political turmoil and he has been falsely implicated.

The objections filed on behalf of the SIT stated that the case of kidnapping is having connection with the alleged sexual assault and crime commited by Revanna’s son Prajwal. It was stated that Prajwal had video-recorded the alleged sexual assault and used those for repeated sexual exploitation, and one of the victims was kidnapped by one Satish Babanna at the behest of Revanna.

Special Court judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat perused the judgements of the apex court in relation to the offence under IPC section 364A. The court noted that the protection of the life and liberty of the victim would be of paramount consideration and it is the fundamental right as enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

Revanna was taken to the SIT office in CID HQ on Palace Road for further procedure. He will be presented before the magistrate where the SIT will seek his custody for detailed interrogation after the completion of medical tests.

The scandal broke after purported videos of women being sexually harassed and abused were leaked in Hassan, days ahead of phase-1 polling for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in the state on April 26.

The first case was registered at the Holenarasipura Town police station in Hassan on April 28 where Revanna and Prajwal were accused of sexually harassing a 47-year-old house-help. The second case was registered on May 1 by the CID after a 44-year-old former Hassan Zilla Panchayat member accused Prajwal of repeated rape, threats and blackmailing over three years.

The third case was registered on May 2 at the KR Nagara police station in Mysuru accusing Revanna and another Sathish Babanna of kidnapping a survivor, allegedly sexually assaulted by Prajwal. In the cases involving alleged sexual harassment and kidnapping, Revanna was named as accused 1 in the FIRs. Prajwal was the sole accused in the rape case, while he was named as accused 2 in the sexual harassment case.

As per the victim’s son, Babanna had taken the woman, a former maid at Revanna’s house in Holenarsipur, away on April 29 from their house in Hebbalu village of KR Nagar taluk. The suspect Babanna was arrested on Friday and remanded in judicial custody.

On Saturday, the SIT officials rescued the abducted woman from a farmhouse at Kaalenahalli village in Mysuru’s Hunsur taluk. Police sources said that the woman was moved to Bengaluru.

According to official sources, the farmhouse belonged to Revanna's aide Rajashekar. The survivor’s condition was reportedly stable when she was rescued at the farmhouse, around 30 km away from her residence.

(With inputs from Ambarish B and Mysuru bureau)