Bengaluru: Janata Dal (Secular) leader Prajwal Revanna, who is facing charges of sexual abuse, has apologised to his parents and said he will appear before Karnataka government-instituted special investigative team (SIT) on May 31.
The JD(S) MP, who is seeking re-election from Hassan in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, left India on April 27, a day after polling was held in his constituency.
“I apologise to my parents… I was in depression. I will come (back to India) and appear before the SIT (a special investigative team set up by the state government) on May 31 (Friday),” Prajwal, the son of MLA HD Revanna and grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, said in a video message.
“I will cooperate to the best of my abilities and provide all answers. I have full faith in the legal system that I will come out of these false cases against me. I have the blessings of God and my family,” Prajwal said.
Deve Gowda recently wrote an open letter asking Prajwal to return to India and face the probe. Videos of sex crimes allegations by several women against Prajwal surfaced online around April 26-27.
Apologising to his parents, Prajwal claimed that he went into depression and isolation.
He claimed his foreign trip was pre-planned and that there was no case or SIT probe against him when polling took place in his constituency in the second phase, on April 26.
“I came to know about the allegations while I was on my trip,” Prajwal said in the video.
“Rahul Gandhi and many other Congress leaders started talking about it and against me and a political conspiracy was formed against me… At 10 am on Friday, May 31, I will appear before SIT and provide all information related to the investigation. I will support the investigation. I have faith in the judiciary,” Prajwal said.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah accused Deve Gowda of helping Prajwal leave the country.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a showcause notice to Prajwal last week.
MEA is also processing Karnataka government’s request to cancel Prajwal’s diplomatic passport.
