Prajwal Revanna, the Hassan MP and grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, has perpetrated a series of sexual assaults involving women from various social and economic backgrounds. Disturbingly, these acts were recorded on his mobile phones, often against the victims’ will. Despite being summoned by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), Prajwal has avoided appearing, leading to the issuance of a lookout circular at all entry points to the country to prevent him from escaping legal scrutiny. This move underscores the severity of the charges against him and massive public outrage.
The 2024 election campaign in Hassan has been overshadowed by the emergence of the now-infamous pen drives. These drives, containing 2,976 files, include explicit screenshots of chats, video calls with several women, and nearly 100 videos. Among these are two particularly harrowing videos: one involving a housemaid allegedly kidnapped at Prajwal’s father’s behest, and another showing a farm labourer being raped, purportedly by Prajwal himself. Police estimate that over 90 women have been victimized by the MP. It is only after this news became public, some women came forward to lodge complaints of sexual assault against the perpetrator.
This shows how little faith the masses have on ‘equality in the eyes of the law’. Prajwal’s political journey began with the 2019 parliamentary elections, where he emerged as a young and dynamic parliamentarian. As the first member of the third generation in the Gowda clan to achieve election success, his victory was seen as a significant milestone. However, the impact of the sexual assault allegations extends far beyond political ramifications. Videos of women pleading for their dignity and safety have been leaked and circulated widely, causing them immense distress. From party workers to house helps, no one seems to have been spared from Prajwal’s predatory behaviour.
The case of a 68-year-old maid begging for her life and other women pleading with Prajwal not to record or abuse them is heart-wrenching. The trauma inflicted on these women will haunt them—and those who witness their pleas—forever. The political fallout and the response of party members further underline the depth of the matter.
The crime has also brought to light the internal dynamics of Prajwal’s family and political allies. Reports suggest that senior political figures, including Amit Shah, had urged H.D. Kumaraswamy and H.D. Deve Gowda not to let Prajwal contest the elections. However, his father, H.D. Revanna, was determined to see his son run despite the serious allegations.
The issue also raises questions about the ethics of the news media. In the early days of the coverage, when the details were still sketchy, many Kannada news shows used titillating and salacious language to describe Prajwal’s alleged actions. English and Kannada media have variously described the issue as a sex scandal, sleaze videos, obscene videos scandal, objectionable videos, and sexual assault videos. ANI, one of India’s biggest news agencies, persistently referred to it as ‘obscene videos.’ Some news channels went as far as telecasting visuals from the videos against the backdrop of sensual film songs.
This issue highlights not only a politician on a spree of sexual assault facilitated by his family’s power and influence but also the Congress party workers who distributed the videos across the district to gain electoral benefits. Additionally, the media’s role in broadcasting the clips nationwide further victimized the women involved. The only people truly affected here are the rape victims, showcasing the deeply flawed nature of the justice system, political parties and the media.
