Karnataka Minister Slams Kumaraswamy Over Remarks on Prajwal Revanna Case

Prajwal Revanna, the nephew of Kumaraswamy and grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, has been convicted in a rape case and is lodged in Bengaluru Central Jail.

Cheluvarayaswamy said Kumaraswamy should file a formal complaint if he had information about those responsible for distributing the pen drives linked to the case. He said the state government could initiate an investigation into the matter.

“H.D. Kumaraswamy seems to think Prajwal Revanna is an innocent boy. He asks who was behind the Hassan pen drive controversy. Let him file a complaint against those who distributed the pen drives, and action can be taken,” Cheluvarayaswamy said.

He added that he would personally request the Chief Minister to order an investigation if Kumaraswamy submitted a complaint.

The Congress minister further questioned Kumaraswamy’s concern for the women allegedly affected by the case, asking about the impact on their lives and families.

“He has sympathy for Prajwal Revanna, but not for the hundreds of women who suffered injustice because of him,” Cheluvarayaswamy said, raising questions about the circumstances faced by the women and their families.

He said the Congress had avoided repeatedly discussing the sensitive matter but accused Kumaraswamy of bringing it up frequently.

The remarks came a day after Kumaraswamy questioned the timing of developments concerning Prajwal Revanna’s reported transfer to Hindalga prison and his subsequent return. The Union Minister alleged that the issue had resurfaced when the Bidadi farmers’ protest was being discussed, raising questions about whether it was diverting public attention.

Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru on Tuesday, Kumaraswamy asked why allegations concerning incidents at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison had surfaced after nearly one-and-a-half years. He also sought clarity on who had ordered the reported transfer, who had directed Revanna’s return and who had made the relevant phone calls.

Kumaraswamy clarified that he had not opposed the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the Prajwal Revanna case. However, he called for similar seriousness in other matters.

He also questioned the progress of the investigation into the circulation of pen drives linked to the case, asking how many people had been arrested for allegedly producing and distributing them, how many women had filed complaints and what the probe had established.