HD Revanna, Karnataka MLA and Janata Dal (Secular) leader today withdrew his anticipatory bail plea in the sexual abuse case involving his son and Hassan Lok Sabha MP Prajwal Revanna.
HD Revanna withdrew his plea after Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) BN Jagadeesha told the special court that the rape charge under Section 376 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) has not been invoked against the Karnataka MLA.
Furthermore, it was also submitted that no non-bailable offences have been invoked against him at present. Previously, the SPP objected to the maintainability of the anticipatory bail petition and informed the court that only a notice under Section 41 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) had been issued to HD Revanna.
The Special Court on Thursday had issued notice to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the matter and listed the matter for hearing today. Considering the submissions of the prosecution today, Senior Advocate Murthy D Naik, appearing for Revanna, sought permission to withdraw the plea with the liberty to file a fresh one if required. Subsequently, the Court permitted the withdrawal.
Revanna has been booked in a fresh case related to the alleged kidnapping of one the victims of his son Prajwal Revanna. Notably, the sexual abuse allegations against Prajwal Revanna had emerged after more than 2,900 videos depicting the sexual assault of several women were circulated on social media.
A first information report (FIR) was registered on April 28 against Prajwal Revanna and his father HD Revanna under Sections 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 509 (insult to modesty of woman) of the IPC at the Holenaraseepur town police station, Hassan district. The criminal case was lodged on a complaint filed by one of the victims. The SIT headed by senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer BK Singh is investigating the case and has summoned Revanna.
Meanwhile, Prajwal Revanna is said to have fled to Germany soon after the April 26 elections.