'Prajwal Revanna raped my mother, forced me to strip on video calls': Woman tells SIT

Bengaluru: In the midst of the ongoing investigation surrounding the sex tape scandal in Karnataka, a woman has stepped forward with grave allegations against suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna and his father HD Revanna, implicating them in instances of sexual assault and harassment.

The woman, whose identity remains undisclosed, asserted that Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna perpetrated the rape of her mother four to five years ago at his residence in Bengaluru. According to reports, she provided the Special Investigation Team (SIT) with a comprehensive testimony detailing the occurrences.

Furthermore, she claimed that she was coerced into disrobing during video calls in 2020 and 2021, with Prajwal allegedly issuing threats to enforce compliance.

"He used to call me and ask me to remove my clothes. He would call on my mother’s mobile and force me to answer the video calls. When I refused, he threatened to harm me and my mother," she stated.

The woman asserted that her family extended support upon learning of the incidents, leading to the filing of a formal complaint.

Accusing Prajwal and HD Revanna of both rape and sexual harassment directed at her mother, she alleged that the Hassan MP resorted to intimidation tactics, threatening to jeopardise her father's employment and perpetrate further violence.

Additionally, she disclosed instances of alleged harassment targeting female domestic workers employed at the Revanna residence.

Amid claims of widespread misconduct, the woman highlighted that only three individuals have publicly come forward regarding the harassment, indicating a broader pattern of abuse.

Prajwal, the 33-year-old Hassan MP, and his father are implicated in a series of allegations involving sexual abuse and illicit recordings.

Following the emergence of the scandalous videos, Karnataka was engulfed in a political maelstrom, prompting the Congress-led government to launch a SIT inquiry into the matter.

To date, three FIRs have been lodged, encompassing charges ranging from rape to kidnapping.

Prajwal purportedly departed the country on April 27, following the dissemination of the incriminating videos.

Meanwhile, HD Revanna, the former Karnataka minister, has been remanded to judicial custody until May 14.