A Special Court in Bengaluru on MOnday granted bail to Karnataka Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) HD Revanna in a sexual abuse case involving him and his son, Lok Sabha MP Prajwal Revanna.
The Special MP/MLA court Judge J Preeth allowed the bail plea on the condition that HD Revanna executes a personal bond for Rs 5 lakh with two sureties and cooperates with the investigation.
The sexual abuse allegations against MP 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 HD Revanna under Sections 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 509 (insult to modesty of woman) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at the Holenaraseepur town police station, Hassan district.
Furthermore, the criminal case was registered on a complaint lodged by one of the victims. A special investigation team (SIT) headed by senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer BK Singh is investigating the matter.
The sexual abuse allegation has triggered a massive outrage and political storm. Lok Sabha MP and accused Prajwal Revanna is said to have fled to Germany soon after the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections in the state, held on April 26. It is reported that an arrest warrant has also been issued against him in the sexual assault case. Additionally, Interpol has issued a Blue Corner Notice against Prajwal Revanna.
Senior Advocate CV Nagesh appeared for HD Revanna. Ashok Naik and Jayna Kothari, Additional Special Government Prosecutors appeared for the prosecution.
Karnataka JDS leader HD Revanna was arrested on May 4 and was remanded into four-day police custody. The Karnataka MLA was later sent into judicial custody. At the conclusion of his judicial custody, he secured conditional bail from a special court for MPs and MLAs.