Karnataka MP’s ‘sexual abuse’ tapes spark outrage

Thousands of videos allegedly showing an Indian member of parliament sexually harassing women have circulated in the southern state of Karnataka, sparking outrage.

Police are investigating the allegations against Prajwal Revanna, who is accused of assaulting several women.

Revanna did not comment, but an official in his office denied it, saying the videos were fake.

The MP belongs to the Janata Dal (Secular), which is an ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party.

His father, H D Revanna, who is a legislator in the Karnataka assembly, is also an accused in a complaint filed with the police by a former employee of the family. He denies the allegations, calling them a political conspiracy.

On Monday, the JD(S) announced that it was suspending Prajwal Revanna. The party was founded by Revanna’s grandfather, HD Deve Gowda, former Prime Minister of India.

Karnataka Chief Minister K Siddaramaiah said the case would be taken up by a special investigation team (SIT) based on a request from the state women’s commission.

The allegations against Revanna first came to light last June, but he obtained a court order preventing media outlets from publishing so-called “morphed videos.” But five days before the vote in Hassan on April 26 – where Revanna is an MP and is running for another term – thousands of flash drives were distributed in public places such as bus stops and parks.

The videos, which were reportedly shot by Mr. Revanna himself, showed the faces of women he allegedly molested.

Following a complaint lodged by the woman, Karnataka Women’s Commission chief Nagalakshmi Chaudhary wrote to the state police chief seeking action against the perpetrators.

“Your blood boils when you watch some of the films,” she told the BBC. “There is one woman who is begging… ‘please no, please no.’ “You don’t feel well.”

On Sunday, a 47-year-old woman who worked for the family as a cook and identified herself as a cousin of Mr. Revanna’s mother filed a police complaint alleging that she had been sexually abused by the MP and his father.

“When I joined, six other maids said they were afraid of Prajwal. The male employees also asked us to keep an eye out for (HD) Revanna and his son Prajwal,” she stated in her complaint.

“While his wife was away, (HD) Revanna repeatedly touched me inappropriately, undressed me and sexually assaulted me. While I was working in the kitchen, Prajwal groped me from behind,” she added.

The woman claimed that she decided to come forward after seeing videos of other victims on the Internet.

She also accused Prajwal Revanna of molesting her daughter and her father of stalking and intimidating her.

Police say Prajwal Revanna has left the country and some reports say he is in Germany. However, his father denied the claims and said they were willing to face an investigation. “We won’t run away scared. We are here. We will respond to these allegations in accordance with the law,” he told reporters.

The case caused a political storm in Karnataka. Many people questioned how someone “accused of such a terrible act” could leave the building without asking questions.

The minister of state wrote on X, formerly Twitter, asking Modi to explain why the alliance fielded Prajwal Revanna in the elections “knowing that the candidate had exploited hundreds of women”.

Local BJP leader G. Devaraje Gowda had written to the state government in December, requesting that Prajwal Revanna or any family not be fielded as the alliance candidate because of the videos.

A BJP spokesman told the BBC: “We cannot tell an alliance partner not to field this or that candidate. “It’s left to the party.”

JD(S) also distanced itself from both politicians. HD Revanna’s brother, former prime minister HD Kumaraswamy, on Monday called it “an embarrassment to society”.

“Don’t blame the family,” he told reporters. “HD Revanna and his family are apart. I don’t follow his movements.”

Senior party leader GT Deve Gowda said the party leadership will take disciplinary action against both men if the allegations are proven.

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