JD(S) to suspend Prajwal Revanna over alleged sexual abuse of women

Bengaluru: The HD Deve Gowda-led JD(S) has decided to suspend its under-election Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna for his alleged involvement in sex videos and abuse of women for which a case has been filed against him.

Prajwal's suspension will be made official at the party's core committee meeting scheduled in Hubballi on Tuesday.

While expulsion means losing the party's primary membership, suspension would bar Prajwal from participating in any JD(S) activity.

The decision came amidst a few JD(S) lawmakers urging Gowda to act against Prajwal, who is facing a special investigation team (SIT) probe for alleged sexual perversion leading to abuse of women.

JD(S) MLAs Sharanagouda Kandakur (Gurmitkal) and Samruddhi V Manjunath (Mulbagal) are among those who had sought action against Prajwal.

"We have requested the party leadership to keep Prajwal under suspension going by the alleged videos being circulated. We're not saying he's accused," Manjunath told DH. "Let the truth come out from the SIT probe. Until then, Prajwal should be kept away from all party activities," he said.

Manjunath also said that party lawmakers and workers are upset with Congress for "trying to tarnish" the image of Gowda and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy by dragging them into the issue.

In his letter, Kandakur stated that the episode had caused "severe embarrassment" to the party and advised the leadership to suspend Prajwal.

Confirming action against Prajwal, Kumaraswamy said, "The decision will be announced on Tuesday after a discussion in the core committee meeting."

'Separate families'

In the wake of Prajwal's case, Kumaraswamy drew a clear family line separating himself from his brother H D Revanna, Prajwal's father. Kumaraswamy and Revanna have had political differences in the past.

Asked about embarrassment to Deve Gowda's family, Kumaraswamy said: "That question doesn't arise. Revanna and I are separate families. We have our own businesses. How am I connected to this (case)? Can we keep tabs on adults?"

Kumaraswamy also questioned the timing of the sex videos going viral. "Just three days before polls, pen drives were distributed. Who did that? Even that needs to be investigated. That's because those who circulated the videos have committed a bigger crime," he said.