SIT files 2,144-page chargesheet against Prajwal, HD Revanna; shares details about rape, harassment and threats

A staggering 2,144-page chargesheet has been filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) against former Janata Dal (Secular) MP Prajwal Revanna and his father, MLA HD Revanna. The chargesheet, submitted late Friday, presents a shocking account of crimes including rape, sexual harassment, and threats against a woman employed in Revanna's household.

Extensive Evidence and Witness Testimonies

The chargesheet is supported by the statements of 137 witnesses, alongside various forms of digital, biological, and technical evidence. A police officer, speaking under the condition of anonymity, revealed that the document includes harrowing details of the alleged crimes, painting a disturbing picture of the abuse and threats faced by the victim.

A Pattern of Abuse

The investigation uncovered a troubling history of Prajwal Revanna's misconduct. He is accused of sexually harassing multiple women, recording the abuse, and later blackmailing them with the footage. The SIT is also probing allegations of gang rape involving Prajwal, who was suspended from the Janata Dal (Secular) after explicit videos purportedly showing him abusing several women surfaced just hours after polling in the Hassan Lok Sabha seat on April 26.

The Karnataka State Women's Commission chairperson, Nagalakshmi Chowdhary, demanded a thorough inquiry, prompting the Congress government to initiate the investigation. Preliminary reports suggest that a pen drive containing 2,976 explicit videos, allegedly filmed at Revanna's residences in Bengaluru and Hassan, played a crucial role in the case.

Repeated Assaults and Intimidation

According to the chargesheet, HD Revanna repeatedly assaulted the domestic help between 2019 and 2022, taking advantage of her vulnerable position. Initially employed at a girls' hostel in Holenarasipur, Hassan district, she was later transferred to work at Revanna's home, where the assaults took place. Prajwal is accused of raping the same woman in 2020 at his Basavanagudi residence in Bengaluru, recording the act, and subsequently using the footage to blackmail her. The victim's desperate pleas can be heard in the recordings, but Prajwal reportedly responded with threats, including jailing her husband and harming her daughter.

Attempts to Destroy Evidence

The chargesheet also indicates that Prajwal attempted to destroy evidence and flee the country when the videos went public. The SIT has yet to file additional chargesheets related to other rape allegations and the Hassan pen drive case, which are expected in the coming days.

Both HD Revanna and Prajwal face serious charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), highlighting a pattern of systemic abuse and the exploitation of vulnerable women.