Karnataka sex tape row: Explicit videos of Prajwal Revanna circulated by police, claims HD Kumaraswamy

Former Karnataka chief minister and JD (S) leader HD Kumaraswamy on Tuesday (May 7) claimed that the alleged explicit videos of Prajwal Revanna were circulated by police officers intentionally.

Explicit video clips allegedly involving Prajwal were circulated in Hassan ahead of elections in the south Indian state, following which the state government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the sexual abuse allegations against the sitting member of parliament who had reportedly fled to Germany.

Addressing the press conference, Kumaraswamy said, "I'm addressing this PC over a dirty incident which shouldn't have happened. On 21st of April, a pen drive was circulated throughout the state intentionally and it was done by the police officers."

"They circulated it in Bengaluru Rural, Mandya, and also in Hassan intentionally,” said Kumaraswamy, who is also the uncle of Revanna and the son of former Indian prime minister HD Deve Gowda.

Kumaraswamy said Prajwal Revanna's election agent Poornachandra filed a complaint with the Hassan DC and Police on 22nd April.

"On 21st April, a person called Naveen Gowda tweeted to watch Prajwal Revanna's videos. I am not defending anyone or anything in those videos. Punishment must be given. There is no question of protecting anyone, irrespective of who they are," he said.

The former chief minister further informed that a complaint against Naveen Gowda, Karthik Gowda, Chetan and Putti/Purtaraju was filed but no action was taken against any of them.

“FIR was filed on 21st April. On 26th April, [election] returning officer replied and closed the complaint...no action has been taken by the police or election returning officer till now. Who shared the videos and pen drive?"

Meanwhile,BJP leader G Devaraje Gowda, a whistleblower inRevanna's sexual abuse row, said that the special investigation team (SIT) is forcing him to rule out his allegations against Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who is from Congress party, from his testimony.

“I do not trust this SIT. There's no transparency in the probe. This case must be handed over to the CBI," Gowda said.

During a news conference, Gowda shared a purported excerpt from an April 29 phone call in which Shivakumar discusses the Prajwal case with him.

Gowda also played pieces of alleged phone calls made to him by former MP LR Shivarame Gowda asking him not to name Chief Minister Siddaramaiah or Shivakumar in the case.

Gowda further claimed that women are being paid to lodge complaints in the case.

It is worth mentioning that on Sunday (May 5), the Karnataka government said a Blue Corner Notice had been issued against Prajwal Revanna, who is facing sexual abuse allegations.

(With inputs from agencies)