HASSAN/BENGALURU: A 47-year-old woman from Holenarsipura town in Karnataka lodged Sunday a police complaint against the son and grandson of ex-PM and JD(S) patriarch HD Deve Gowda — former minister HD Revanna and Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna respectively — accusing them of sexually harassing her and her daughter when they worked in the household between 2019 and 2022.
The development follows reports that 33-year-old Prajwal has left the country. Official sources claimed he is in France.
Within hours of receiving the complaint, police handed over the case to a SIT the state Congress govt set up to investigate the obscene videos allegedly implicating Prajwal, the BJP-JD(S) alliance candidate for Hassan Lok Sabha seat that voted Friday.
According to the FIR, the woman told police she is a close relative of Revanna’s wife Bhavani, and was subjected to sexual harassment. The woman stated that she was invited by Revanna to work as a house help in 2011. In 2015, Revanna helped her secure a cook’s job at a hostel in Holenarasipur. She rejoined Revanna’s house in 2019 during his elder son’s marriage.
“Six other domestic helps in the house would say they are scared of Prajwal. The male employees too would ask us to be wary of Revanna and Prajwal. Whenever his wife Bhavani was away, Revanna would repeatedly touch me inappropriately, disrobe me, and sexually assault me. While I was working in the kitchen, Prajwal would grope me from behind. Prajwal would ask the other employees to bring my daughter to do an oil massage for him. Prajwal would make video calls to my daughter and speak obscenely,” the FIR quoted the woman as saying.
According to the complaint, the woman’s daughter blocked Prajwal’s number and later quit her job at Revanna’s house.
The woman said during the Lok Sabha election campaign, sleaze videos of Prajwal surfaced, and her husband began suspecting her. The woman has demanded that the police provide her protection and take action against Revanna and Prajwal.
Police have registered an FIR under IPC for sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment, stalking, punishment for criminal intimidation, and word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman. The FIR identifies Revanna and Prajwal as accused No 1 and No 2.
Police sources said they are trying to contact other women who were sexually harassed, as claimed by the complainant.
Early last week, pen drives containing the video were mysteriously distributed in Hassan city, following which Prajwal approached police alleging they were deepfakes to defame him ahead of voting on April 26. Police had filed an FIR and launched a probe.
The development follows reports that 33-year-old Prajwal has left the country. Official sources claimed he is in France.
Within hours of receiving the complaint, police handed over the case to a SIT the state Congress govt set up to investigate the obscene videos allegedly implicating Prajwal, the BJP-JD(S) alliance candidate for Hassan Lok Sabha seat that voted Friday.
According to the FIR, the woman told police she is a close relative of Revanna’s wife Bhavani, and was subjected to sexual harassment. The woman stated that she was invited by Revanna to work as a house help in 2011. In 2015, Revanna helped her secure a cook’s job at a hostel in Holenarasipur. She rejoined Revanna’s house in 2019 during his elder son’s marriage.
“Six other domestic helps in the house would say they are scared of Prajwal. The male employees too would ask us to be wary of Revanna and Prajwal. Whenever his wife Bhavani was away, Revanna would repeatedly touch me inappropriately, disrobe me, and sexually assault me. While I was working in the kitchen, Prajwal would grope me from behind. Prajwal would ask the other employees to bring my daughter to do an oil massage for him. Prajwal would make video calls to my daughter and speak obscenely,” the FIR quoted the woman as saying.
According to the complaint, the woman’s daughter blocked Prajwal’s number and later quit her job at Revanna’s house.
The woman said during the Lok Sabha election campaign, sleaze videos of Prajwal surfaced, and her husband began suspecting her. The woman has demanded that the police provide her protection and take action against Revanna and Prajwal.
Police have registered an FIR under IPC for sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment, stalking, punishment for criminal intimidation, and word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman. The FIR identifies Revanna and Prajwal as accused No 1 and No 2.
Police sources said they are trying to contact other women who were sexually harassed, as claimed by the complainant.
Early last week, pen drives containing the video were mysteriously distributed in Hassan city, following which Prajwal approached police alleging they were deepfakes to defame him ahead of voting on April 26. Police had filed an FIR and launched a probe.
Source Agencies
