New Delhi: Following the arrest of Prajwal Revanna on allegations of sexual abuse, the Congress party raised concerns on Saturday about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s perceived silence on the matter, accusing him of failing to ensure justice for women over the past decade.
Prajwal Revanna, a suspended Janata Dal (Secular) MP facing multiple accusations of sexual abuse, was taken into police custody on Friday upon his arrival from Germany, where he had been since April 27. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) from Bengaluru arrested him shortly after his arrival in the early hours of Friday.
The Bengaluru special court has remanded Revanna in police custody until June 6, following a request by the state government-formed SIT, which includes a women police team.
“All India Mahila Congress president Alka Lamba criticized Modi for allegedly permitting Revanna’s initial departure from the country, describing it as ‘Modi ki Guarantee’ for letting a ‘mass rapist’ escape,” Lamba stated during a press conference at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters.
Lamba commended the Karnataka government’s actions and highlighted Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s correspondence with Modi, seeking assistance in the matter, but claimed that no satisfactory response was received from the Centre.
“This lack of response underscores Modi’s purported indifference to the Prajwal Revanna case,” Lamba asserted. She further urged Modi to break his silence and ensure the protection of evidence and delivery of justice to the victims.
Lamba also drew attention to other instances of alleged sexual violence across different states, accusing BJP leaders in Madhya Pradesh of involvement and highlighting reported cases from Rajasthan and Sidhi in Madhya Pradesh.
“In the past decade, Narendra Modi has, according to Lamba, failed to ensure justice for our daughters, and she called on him to end his silence, which she claims emboldens perpetrators of such crimes,” Lamba added.
Following a period of evading summons and staying abroad for over a month, Prajwal Revanna, aged 33 and the grandson of JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda, was detained upon his return to Bengaluru from Munich, Germany. He was promptly arrested by the SIT and taken in for questioning.
Revanna had previously released a video statement pledging to cooperate with the SIT investigation upon his return. He was subsequently brought before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate K N Shivakumar, who considered arguments from Revanna’s legal team before ordering him into police custody.
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara confirmed that Prajwal Revanna, the NDA’s Lok Sabha candidate from Hassan, faced allegations of sexually abusing multiple women and was arrested following due process.
In the initial case registered against him on April 28 at the Holenarasipura Town police station in Hassan, Revanna stands accused of sexually harassing a former maid. His father and local MLA H D Revanna is also implicated in the case.
Revanna faces charges in multiple cases, including allegations of rape, prompting the Karnataka government to seek cancellation of his diplomatic passport through the Ministry of External Affairs.
JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda emphasized that his grandson should face the full force of the law if found guilty, reiterating a hands-off approach by himself and other family members in the investigation.
In response to the developments, Modi had earlier emphasized a policy of zero tolerance towards individuals like Prajwal Revanna, accusing the Congress-led Karnataka government of facilitating Revanna’s departure and releasing compromising videos after the election concluded in Vokkaliga-dominated areas.
