Former Prime Minister and JD(S) Chief, HD Deve Gowda, has delivered a stern warning to his grandson, Prajwal Revanna, the NDA candidate from Karnataka’s Hassan Lok Sabha seat. Prajwal, 33, faces serious accusations of sexual assault, including rape, disrobing women, and recording these acts to intimidate the victims, leading to a national outcry.
Gowda expressed his anguish publicly, stating, “I spoke to the media about Prajwal Revanna on 18 May when I was headed to the temple to offer pooja. It took me some time to recover from the shock and pain he has inflicted on me, my entire family, my colleagues, friends, and party workers. I have already said that he should be given the harshest punishment under the law if found guilty. My son and former Karnataka Chief Minister, Shri. H.D Kumaraswamy, has advocated this line since the day the scandal broke.”
Prajwal fled to Germany on April 27, just after the polling concluded in Hassan, where he was re-contesting his seat. His sudden departure, just days before the allegations surfaced, has aroused suspicions. Interpol has issued a Blue Corner Notice at the CBI’s request, and a Special Court has issued an active arrest warrant.
In his heartfelt public letter, Gowda conveyed the deep pain and betrayal felt by his family, colleagues, and supporters. He emphasized that Prajwal, if found guilty, should face severe legal consequences, a stance echoed by Gowda’s son, HD Kumaraswamy. Prajwal is the son of HD Revanna, another of Gowda’s sons.
HD Revanna, a JD(S) MLA, faces his own legal troubles, accused of molestation and kidnapping. He was recently arrested but released on bail. The case involves allegations from a man who claims Revanna kidnapped his mother, who had worked as a housemaid at Revanna’s residence for six years. The accuser alleges a video surfaced showing Prajwal sexually assaulting his mother, who subsequently disappeared.
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Gowda’s letter culminates in a stern ultimatum to Prajwal: return to India and submit to the legal process. Gowda warns that failing to heed this command will result in Prajwal facing the wrath and complete isolation from his family. He vowed that neither he nor any family member would interfere in the legal proceedings.
“At this juncture, I can do only one thing. I can issue a stern warning to Prajwal and ask him to return from wherever he is and surrender before the police. He should subject himself to the legal process. This is not an appeal that I am making, it is a warning that I am issuing. If he does not heed this warning, he will have to face my anger and the anger of all his family members. The law will take care of the accusations against him, but not listening to the family will ensure his total isolation. If he has any respect left for me, he has to return immediately,” Gowda’s letter reads.
