Prajwal Revanna in SIT custody: A look at chain of events that led to his arrest

Prajwal Revanna, the suspended JD(S) leader, who was absconding for 34 days finally returned to India on Friday. He landed at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda Airport on May 31 where SIT officials were waiting for him to arrive.

The Hassan MP was arrested at the airport and was taken for questioning over the sexual harassment case which he is accused of.

The leader’s arrival marks a pivotal point in the case as now the Special Investigation Team will question Revanna over allegations made by multiple women that he and his father HD Revanna sexually abused them over a long period.

Revanna’s case picked up political heat as well during the 2024 Lok Sabha election season with the Opposition slamming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is in alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka, for sheltering a leader like Revanna in its party

Here’s a timeline of events that transpired till Prajwal Revanna’s arrest on Friday:

2. Video clips allegedly showing Revanna and involving multiple women went viral on social media on April 27, a day after Karnataka’s Hassan went to the polls

3. On the same day Revanna, the grandson of former PM HD Deve Gowda, fled to Germany using his diplomatic passport

4. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah formed an SIT team on April 27 based on FIRs of women who claimed Revanna abused them

5. Revanna was suspended by JD(S) on April 30. The party announced that the leader would remain on suspension till the SIT team completes its probe on the matter

6. The suspended leader replied to his summon through his lawyers and made the first public comment on the case on May 1, saying “Truth will prevail.”

7. The very next day, on May 2, SIT issued a lookout notice against Revanna after he said he wouldn’t be able to attend an inquiry

8. Revanna’s father, HD Revanna, a co-accused in the case, was arrested on May 4 and remained in judicial custody till May 14

9. India’s former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, the grandfather of Revanna, made the first public comment on the allegations against his grandson on May 23 and asked him to cooperate with the investigation adding, “Don’t test my patience”

10. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) received a letter from the Karnataka government urging the cancellation of Revanna’s diplomatic passport on May 23

11. Prajwal Revanna published a video message on May 27, announcing that he will appear before the SIT on May 31

12. Days before he arrived in India, Revanna filed an anticipatory bail in the rape case registered against him on May 29. The plea was later rejected by a special court in Karnataka

24. Prajwal Revanna returned to India on May 31