Karnataka sex abuse case: Prajwal Revanna says will appear before police on May 31, cooperate in probe

Karnataka sex abuse case accused Prajwal Revanna has said that he will appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on May 31 and cooperate in the probe linked to the alleged obscene video case.

Revanna, in a self-made video which he released on Monday (May 27), said that he was currently out on a "pre-planned" trip and that there was no case filed against him when Karnataka went into polling for the Lok Sabha elections on April 26.

In the video, he also claimed that a political conspiracy was orchestrated against him as he was making significant progress in the field of politics.

The JDS MP from Hassan has been absconding after being accused of sexual harassment by a woman who worked in his household. He reportedly fled to Germany in the month of April.

He also extended an apology to his family, party supporters and the people of the state.

"Namaskara, firstly I apologise to my parents, my grandfather, Kumaraswamy and my party workers and people of the state. I didn't inform where I am. When elections were held on (April) 26th, there was no case on me and no SIT was formed then, my foreign trip was pre-planned. That's why I came to foreign. I came to know about it through YouTube and the news. Then SIT notice was also served to me. Then through my X account I asked for seven days time to appear," Revanna said in the self-made video released on Monday.

He further said that he went into depression and isolated himself after Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi started discussing about the issue in open forums, accusing the opposition of hatching a conspiracy.

"When I asked for 7 days' time to appear, Rahul Gandhi and many other Congress leaders started talking about it and me in open forums. A political conspiracy was hatched against me, then I went to depression and isolated myself. That's why I apologised, even after that many in Hassan hatched conspiracy against me as I'm growing in politics, by looking at all this, I stayed away," he said.

"On 31st Friday, 10 am, I'll appear before SIT and provide all information related to investigation, I'll cooperate with the SIT investigation, I have a lot of faith in judiciary, I believe in god and judiciary, that's why I'll appear on Friday 31st in front of the SIT," Revanna added.

Deve Gowda issues 'stern warning' to grandson Prajwal Revanna to return to India

This comes after former Indian prime minister and JD (S) party supremo HD Deve Gowda issued a stern warning to his grandson Revanna, asking him to return to India and face the law.

Gowda shared a statement on his official X handle that asked Revanna to surrender before the police.

He also said that if found guilty, his grandson should not be spared and be given the harshest punishment under the law.

"At this juncture, I can do only one thing; I can issue a stern warning to Prajwal and ask him to return from wherever he is and surrender before the police. He should subject himself to the legal process," the former Indian prime minister said in a statement.

He then clarified that it was "not an appeal that I am making, it is a warning that I am issuing".

"If he does not heed this warning, he will have to face my anger and anger of all his family members. The law will take care of the accusations against him, but not listening to the family will ensure his total isolation. If he has any respect left for me, he has to return immediately," Gowda said.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also wrote to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to cancel Revanna's diplomatic passport "along with prompt and concerted actions to secure his return to India."

(With inputs from agencies)