Prajwal Revanna (born 5 August 1990) is an Indian politician who served as a member of the 17th Lok Sabha from Hassan Constituency.[2][3] In 2019, he was the third youngest member of parliament in India.[4]
Prajwal has been accused of raping numerous women, and videos of such acts have circulated, which have been recorded by Prajwal himself.[3][5]
Prajwal graduated in mechanical engineering from Bangalore Institute of Technology in 2014.[6] He joined a master's degree programme in Australia but discontinued it to join politics.
In 2019, he was appointed as the state general secretary of the Janata Dal (Secular) party (JD(S)).[7] He worked for more than 8 years in JD(S) party.[citation needed]
In 2019, Deve Gowda allowed Prajwal to contest from Hassan for the Lok Sabha, himself moving to Tumkur.[9] Prajwal won from Hassan, and became the only winner from his party's six candidates that contested the elections.[10] Within 12 hours of the win, saddened by his grandfather's defeat from Tumkur, Prajwal announced his resignation and offered the seat to Gowda,[11] who asked him to reconsider the decision.[12] In September 2019, the Karnataka High Court issued a summons to him over an incomplete election affidavit. Petitioners of the summons accused Prajwal of filing a false and incomplete affidavit with his nomination papers during the 2019 elections.[13] In January 2020, Justice John Michael D'Cunha dismissed the first petition on grounds that the petitioner had not complied with the statutory procedure under Section 81(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and the second on technical grounds.[14]
Controversies
2024 Sexual Abuse Allegations
Prajwal again contested from the Hassan constituency in the 2024 general election for the Lok Sabha.[15] On the day of voting, his polling agent filed a complaint with the police alleging that some falsified photos and videos of Prajwal were being widely circulated in Hassan district and claimed that "the accused are going door to door and showing these obscene photos and videos, provoking people not to vote for Prajwal"[16]
As media attention grew towards the alleged sexual abuse, on 27 April, the Government of Karnataka established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations. The Karnataka State Commission for Women stated that it had also recorded cases of women being forced and filmed without consent.[17] It was reported that thousands of pen drives containing these videos, reportedly made by Prajwal himself, were circulated, some being thrown in public places such as parks, bus stops and a stadium in Hassan.[3][18][19]
The following day, it was reported that Prajwal had fled the country for Germany using his diplomatic passport which does not require a visa. His family and party members said that his trip was pre-planned. However, he did not obtain the clearance required for use of a diplomatic passport from the Ministry of External Affairs before traveling to Germany. [20][21] On 30 April, Prajwal was suspended by the party, which stated that the suspension would stay till the SIT probe initiated against him was completed.[3][21]
As Prajwal continued to evade authorities, the SIT sought help from the Interpol to locate him, and a blue corner notice was issued on 5 May.[22][23]
On 31 May 2024, Prajwal was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore after arriving on a Lufthansa flight from Munich. Interpol informed the SIT of Prajwal's check-in and boarding of the flight from Munich. He was detained by immigration officers and handed over to police at the airport.[24][25] Initially, the Special Court for elected representatives remanded him to SIT custody till 6 June, which was later extended to 10 June.[26] Prajwal's father, H. D. Revanna, said that Prajwal should be hanged if he is guilty of committing crimes.[27]
