'I apologise to my parents...will appear before SIT': Prajwal Revanna issues statement on sexual assault row
Suspended Janata Dal (United) leader Prajwal Revanna, who fled to Germany last month, following horrific sex crimes allegations by women who said he forced them into sexual acts, released a statement Monday, claiming comments and "political drama" by opposition leaders drove him to "depression and isolation".
"I apologise to my parents... I was in depression. I will come (back to India) and appear before the SIT (a special investigative team set up by the state government) on May 31 (Friday)," Revanna said as reported in the media.
"I will cooperate to the best of my abilities and provide all answers. I have full faith in the legal system (and) I will come out of these false cases against me. I have the blessings of God and my family..."
On May 1, four days after he fled the country, Revanna posted a message on X saying, "I am not in Bengaluru... I have communicated (to the police) through my lawyer. The truth will prevail soon."
Revanna is the grandson of ex-Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and nephew of ex-Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.
He represented Karnataka's Hassan Lok Sabha seat in the outgoing term and has been nominated to defend the constituency in the 2024 general election. The JDS is allied with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP.
Revanna's message comes after a stern warning from Deve Gowda, who told his grandson to return home and surrender "or face your family's anger".
Allegations against him include include rape, sexual assault, disrobing women, and forcibly video-graphing sexual acts to intimidate the victims.
Prajwal reportedly fled to Germany on April 27, a day after polling concluded in Hassan, where he was re-contesting his seat.
A Blue Corner Notice has been issued by Interpol at the behest of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and an arrest warrant from a Special Court is currently active.
His father, HD Revanna, a 66-year-old former minister, was arrested by the state police on May 4 in connection with an alleged kidnapping case of a woman allegedly raped by Prajwal Revanna and is currently out on bail.
The Congress government in Karnataka has set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe these cases.
However, the BJP and JD(S)—NDA partners—have called for the cases to be handed over to the CBI and for action against those responsible for circulating the obscene videos.
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