Writers and academics demand CM Siddaramaiah to take action on Prajwal Revanna

A group of litterateurs and academics of Karnataka have written to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah demanding the immediate arrest of Hassan JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, who is facing charges of sexually abusing several women but has gone abroad, "absconding" from the law.

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The state government has constituted a Special Investigation Team headed by Additional Director General of Police B K Singh to probe multiple instances of sexual abuse and related cases involving Prajwal Revanna, and the Interpol has issued a Blue Corner Notice against the Hassan MP, who reportedly left the country on April 27.

Prajwal is the son of MLA and former Minister H D Revanna, who too has been accused in a case of molestation and another case of abduction, and grandson of JD(S) patriarch and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda. Condemning the alleged sexual abuse of women by Prajwal, as many as 107 intellectuals comprising litterateurs, academics, playwrights, singers and social activists have written to Siddaramaiah demanding his immediate arrest. In their letter, they said the incident shows the feudal mindset of a powerful family, whose members hold key positions in Parliament, the legislative assembly, the legislative council, panchayats and municipal bodies.

They said it is a big crime that the victims of sexual exploitation were allegedly threatened and kidnapped in order to "cover up a crime which has been happening for many years." The group highlighted the threat to the lives of the victims and the trauma their families are going through after the scandal broke out. They said that some women after suffering ignominy attempted suicide while many stigmatised families migrated from Hassan. The group said a fearless atmosphere should be created for victims to come forward and lodge complaints.

They also sought a brake on trading of charges by political parties, and the completion of the SIT probe within a time-frame. Reacting to the letter, state Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara said the government would take it seriously. “We will take their letter seriously because they are the ones who have concern for the society. They take note of the issues around them,” he said.