BENGALURU: After pressure mounted from Opposition parties as well as within the party, the JD(S) on Tuesday suspended Hassan MP and Lok Sabha candidate Prajwal Revanna who is facing sexual harassment charges.
The case of sexual harassment had been registered on Sunday against Prajwal and his father and former minister HD Revanna in Hassan's Holenarasipur police station based on a complaint by their cook.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by ADGP CID Bijay Kumar Singh, and comprising Additional Commissioner Suman D Pennekar and Mysuru SP Seema Latkar, has begun investigations into the case.
In its suspension order, the JD (S) stated that alleged sexual harassment videos of Prajwal Revanna are being circulated on social media, causing damage to the dignity of the party and its leaders.
"Under Article XXII- Breach of Discipline - 4 and Punishment-6 of JDS rules, Prajwal has been suspended from the party with immediate effect. This has been approved by the JDS National President," it stated.
After the videos emerged, several JDS legislators openly demanded the suspension of Prajwal from the party to avoid further embarassment.
While Congress leaders and workers were seen protesting against the Hassan MP across the state, JDS state president and former CM HD Kumaraswamy too said those who are guilty will be punished. He had also urged people not to drag the JDS supremo and former Prime Minister HD Devegowda into this as it is an individual case.
Prajwal is reportedly in Germany and his father and Holenarasipura MLA HD Revanna had said Prajwal will attend the probe and they are "not running away from this."
Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women has taken suo motu cognizance of the Prajwal Revanna case and asked the Karnataka Director General of Police to submit a detailed report on the issue within three days.