‘Let BJP-JD(S) leaders comment, if we speak…’: Karnataka Dy CM Shivakumar on silence on life sentence for Prajwal Revanna

MP Prajwal Revanna has been sentenced to imprisonment for the remainder of his life in a rape case

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Congress leader DK Shivakumar on Saturday questioned the silence of leaders from JD(S) and its alliance partner BJP in connection with former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna being sentenced to imprisonment for the remainder of his life, in a rape case.

Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Shivakumar said, JD(S) leaders and their alliance partner BJP are competent to comment on the Prajwal Revanna issue, and questioned as to why they are not speaking.

"Let them comment. Let JD(S) state president (H D Kumaraswamy), national president (H D Deve Gowda), youth president (Nikhil Kumaraswamy), BJP president (B Y Vijayendra), opposition leader (R Ashoka) and central ministers, all of them should comment on this. Why are they not commenting? It is their bound duty to comment on this," he has been quoted as saying in a PTI report.

"If we (Congress) speak on the issue, it will be seen as politics. We respect the law and abide by it. We want people to get justice," Shivakumar, who is also the Congress party's state chief, added.

A special court in Bengaluru on Friday convicted the 34-year-old grandson of former Prime Minister and JD(S) patriarch HD Deve Gowda in one of the four sexual abuse and rape cases against him.

The case in which Prajwal was sentenced pertains to a 48-year-old woman who was working as a domestic help at the family's Gannikada farmhouse in Hassan district's Holenarasipura. She was allegedly raped twice -- at Hassan farm house and Bengaluru residence-- in 2021, and the act was recorded by the accused on his mobile phone.

He had said he did nothing wrong and that his only mistake was his 'fast' growth in politics, seeking lesser punishment as the court in Bengaluru was slated to pronounce the quantum of sentence after convicting him.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters in Dharwad, BJP leader and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said the court would have given the verdict considering all aspects, and it should be respected.

"Everyone should accept the court order. We had said when the allegations came to light that, if the wrong was committed, punishment would happen in accordance with the law after investigation and trial. Now that the court has given its verdict, everyone should accept it. The future choices (regarding going on an appeal) are left for the concerned parties to decide," he said.

"Our society sees women with respect. The court, after considering all aspects, has given its verdict," he added.

Four separate cases have been registered against Revanna, who is facing charges of rape and sexual harassment, and the SIT was tasked with probing the cases.

The cases came to light after pen-drives containing explicit videos allegedly involving Revanna were reportedly circulated in Hassan, ahead of Lok Sabha polls there on April 26, 2024.

Revanna was arrested by the SIT in connection with a case registered at the Holenarasipura Town Police Station, on May 31 last year, upon his arrival at Bengaluru Airport from Germany. He was escorted to the SIT office by women officers upon his arrest at the airport.

Revanna had failed in his bid to retain the Hassan parliamentary constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. JD(S) suspended him from the party following the cases filed against him.

With inputs from PTI