Bangalore:
A day after voting took place in the constituency, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered the formation of a special investigation team to probe a sex scandal involving MP Hassan and Janata Dal (secular) candidate candidate Prajwal Revanna would be involved. Mr Revanna, grandson of JDS chief and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, has left for Germany.
After videos of sexual acts began circulating in Hassan, some of which allegedly involved women being coerced or filmed without their consent, the Karnataka State Commission for Women had on Thursday asked the chief minister to set up a special investigation team.
Announcing the decision on Saturday, Siddaramaiah wrote in Kannada on X: “The government has decided to form a special investigation team in connection with the Prajwal Revanna obscene video case. Obscene video clips are circulating in Hassan district, where it appears women have been sexually assaulted.
“In this backdrop, the Women Commission chairperson had written a letter to the government seeking a SIT probe. This decision was made in response to their request,” he wrote.
Mr Revanna left for Germany on Saturday morning.
The JDS is in an alliance with the BJP and earlier in the day, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also demanded answers from the ruling party at the Centre.
“The sexual assault allegations are not just against any Hassan leader. (Karnataka BJP Chief) BY Vijayendra and others must answer. I have read reports that the Women's Commission is trying to tarnish their image. The Commission has written a letter to the Prime Minister and Home Minister,” Shivakumar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
About JDS leader and former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy indirectly accusing him of involvement in the case, Mr Shivakumar said, “Let him raise my name. I will expose him. Is he justifying sexual abuse of women by doing this to talk?”