In a letter posted on X, former PM Gowda said, “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. People have used the harshest words against me and my family in the last few weeks. I am aware of it. I do not wish to stop them. I do not wish to criticise them. I will not try and argue with them that they should have waited until all the facts were found out,” he added.
In his letter, Deve Gowda also ordered Revanna to surrender before the police and face the probe immediately and advised his grandson to not to test his patience any further.
“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 to this warning, he will have to face my anger and anger of all his family members,” the letter read.
“I wish to also make it clear that I will ensure that there will be no interference in the enquiry against him from me or my family mind whatsoever, members. There is no emotion in this regard in there is only the cause of justice for those who have suffered as a result of his alleged actions and misdeeds,” he added.
Earlier in the day, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah urgently requested the cancellation of the diplomatic passport belonging to JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, along with concerted efforts to ensure his return to India.
The 33-year-old the grandson of Deve Gowda and is the NDA’s candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment, is facing charges of multiple instances of sexually abusing women.
The FIR against Prajwal Revanna includes grave charges such as rape, sexual assault, disrobing women, and forcibly video-graphing sexual acts to intimidate the victims. Siddaramaiah emphasizes the urgency of the situation, stressing the need for decisive action by the central government to ensure the accused’s cooperation with legal proceedings.
Prajwal reportedly left for Germany on April 27, a day after Hassan went to polls, and is still at large. Interpol has also issued a Blue Corner Notice seeking information on his whereabouts.