Prajwal Revanna seeks anticipatory bail as SIT preps to arrest him at Bengaluru airport

The JD(S) MP is expected to land at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport at 12.30 am IST on May 31.

Bengaluru: Two days before his announced return to Bengaluru, Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna sought anticipatory bail from a court on Wednesday in connection with two rape cases and one sexual harassment case. 

A special court handling cases involving MPs and MLAs directed the Special Investigation Team's (SIT) special public prosecutor to accept the notices and adjourned the hearing until May 31. 

Prajwal filed separate petitions concerning three FIRs registered against him in the Hassan sex abuse case, which emerged in late April during the Lok Sabha elections in southern Karnataka. 

The JD(S) leader is accused of raping two women and sexually harassing another. 

Prajwal fled India shortly after the elections. On May 18, the special court issued an arrest warrant for him at the SIT's request. 

Interpol issued a blue corner notice against him following a request from the SIT through the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). 

On May 27, Prajwal released a video message promising to return to Bengaluru on May 31 and appear before the SIT. 

DH has learnt that Prajwal booked a business-class ticket on Lufthansa's Munich-Bengaluru flight, scheduled to depart at 12.05 pm CEST (3.35 pm IST) on May 30. The flight is expected to land at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport at 12.30 am IST on May 31. 

He booked two carry-on and check-in bags each. His diplomatic passport is set to expire in November 2024. 

Home Minister G Parameshwara said Prajwal would be arrested as soon as he landed at the airport. "Since the court has issued an arrest warrant, the SIT will have to arrest Prajwal as soon as he arrives in Bengaluru," he told reporters. 

Bail pleas

In his bail petitions, Prajwal claimed that the FIRs were based on a "false narrative" and that the allegations were "incorrect, motivated and ill-intentioned." 

The petitions state that days before polling in Hassan, his election agent filed a complaint at the Hassan CEN police station on April 22, 2024, alleging that certain individuals were distributing electronic devices/pen drives in the Hassan district "for political motives." 

The petitions further state that Prajwal learnt about the lookout circular and the blue corner notice against him through media reports. He filed the petitions considering the aggravated circumstances and fearing arrest and humiliation by the police. He also mentioned that he had sent a scanned copy of the duly executed Vakalat (authorisation letter) to his lawyer. 

Cases against Prajwal

In the first case registered at the Holenarasipura Town police station in Hassan on April 28, Prajwal is accused of sexually harassing a 47-year-old former maid. He is listed as accused number two while his father, Holenarasipura MLA HD Revanna, is accused number one. 

The second case was registered by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on May 1, following accusations from a 44-year-old member of the Hassan zilla panchayat that Prajwal had repeatedly raped her. 

The third case was filed at Bengaluru’s cybercrime police station based on a complaint from a woman in her sixties. 

Prajwal has been booked under IPC sections 376(2)(n) (repeated rape of the same woman), 376(2)(k) (rape by a person in a position of control or dominance), 354B (assault or use of criminal force with intent to disrobe), 354C (voyeurism) and 506 (criminal intimidation). 

According to Home Minister G Parameshwara, the SIT has arrested 10-11 people in connection with the Hassan sex abuse case.