Sexual assault charges against Prajwal Revanna: Over 20 speak to police, back case

The police have, however, not yet got any eyewitnesses — or survivor testimonies other than from the four complainants, the officer said. “We expect more women to come forward,” the officer said.

Last Saturday, a special court for elected representatives issued an arrest warrant against Prajwal who had left the country last month even as the allegations surfaced following the release of pen drives that contain hundreds of clips of the purported crimes.

The warrant was issued following an application moved by the SIT against Prajwal and his father H D Revanna, who is currently out on conditional bail in a kidnapping case linked to the rape charges. Prajwal is the grandson of former prime minister H D Deve Gowda.

The SIT has sent hundreds of videos that purportedly show Prajwal allegedly forcing himself on women to the state’s Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Bengaluru. “Verification of the digital evidence or the videos is going to take time,” the officer said.

The Interpol had earlier issued a Blue Corner Notice to locate Prajwal on the insistence of Karnataka police. “We know where he is putting up. But we cannot divulge the location as the investigation is ongoing,” the officer said, adding that efforts are on to bring the accused back.

Two senior officers confirmed to The Indian Express that Interpol will not issue a red corner notice — meant to arrest and extradite the accused — till a chargesheet in the case is filed. “A Red Corner Notice is usually not issued till the charges are framed and filed,” an officer said.

The case has turned into a political flashpoint this election, with the Congress accusing the BJP of forming an alliance with a “tainted” MP and his party. The Opposition has also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for campaigning for Revanna before the videos came out.

Modi has condemned the case and said “stringent punishment” would be taken against the accused. The BJP, meanwhile, has accused the Congress of “allowing” the accused to flee the country from a state that it governs.

On Saturday, H D Deve Gowda broke his silence on the case and said his grandson should be punished “if found guilty”. The Gowda family distanced itself from Revanna soon after the charges surfaced.