Karnataka HC Grants Bail To BJP Leader G. Devaraje Gowda Amid Scandal Allegations

Today, the Karnataka High Court granted bail to BJP leader G. Devaraje Gowda, a whistleblower in the sex video scandal involving former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda’s grandson, former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, marking a significant development.

Devaraje Gowda accused Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar of contacting and luring him to make accusations against the Deve Gowda family, specifically targeting Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, H.D. Kumaraswamy.

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A bench headed by Justice M.G. Uma issued the bail order. Senior counsel Arun Shyam, representing Devaraje Gowda, argued in favor of his client. Police arrested Gowda on charges of rape.

Arun Shyam highlighted that the rape complaint, filed on April 1, 2024, alleged an incident on December 29, 2023. Previously, a complaint by the victim’s husband in March did not mention rape allegations against Gowda.

Shyam further argued that the police had closed the case due to lack of evidence, and the rape complaint emerged nearly 90 days after the alleged incident.

Currently held at Hassan District Prison, Gowda was under judicial custody.

In May, Gowda claimed that Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had offered him Rs 100 crore to defame former Chief Minister and JD-S state President H.D. Kumaraswamy, as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Devaraje Gowda spoke to the media from a police vehicle after authorities placed him in judicial custody, asserting that Shivakumar had even sent him Rs 5 crore as an advance.

“I refused the offer, and subsequently police cases were filed against me leading to my arrest. Once released, I am prepared to expose him (Shivakumar). The Congress government in Karnataka is on the verge of collapse,” he claimed.

Gowda also alleged, “It was Shivakumar who obtained the pen drive from Karthik Gowda, who worked as a driver for Prajwal Revanna, and orchestrated the entire episode.”