In a dramatic turn of events, Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, who faced allegations of sexual misconduct against women and youth, was arrested upon his return to Bengaluru after a month-long escape abroad. Prajwal, who fled to Germany amidst the scandal, was apprehended at Kempegowda International Airport by the police late Thursday night. He arrived from Munich at 12:30 AM, and as soon as he deplaned, he was taken into custody and transported to the CID office under heavy security.
Earlier, he had released a selfie video promising to appear for investigation on May 31, after having previously booked and canceled return tickets three times. This time, however, he arrived as stated, landing in Bengaluru on May 30. In a related development, the special court for public representatives in Bengaluru rejected his anticipatory bail petition in the sexual assault cases.
The allegations against Prajwal surfaced during the Karnataka Lok Sabha elections, with viral videos showing him engaging in sexual misconduct. These videos created a political uproar, and Prajwal left the country soon after. So far, three rape cases have been registered against him. The SIT police made several attempts to bring him back, issuing notices, arrest warrants, and both blue and red corner notices.
Meanwhile, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah wrote to the central government requesting the cancellation of Prajwal's diplomatic passport, prompting action from the Ministry of External Affairs. At the same time, his grandfather, former PM H.D. Deve Gowda, his father H.D. Revanna, and his uncle, former CM H.D. Kumaraswamy, urged him to cooperate with the investigation. Consequently, Prajwal announced his intention to cooperate and appear before the SIT on May 31 in a selfie video released on Monday.
