BENGALURU: The Special Investigation Team (SIT has detained four more people in connection with the alleged abduction of a 47-year-old victim of Hassan sex scandal.
In all, six people, including Holenarasipur JDS MLA HD Revanna and his relative Satish Babanna, have been taken into custody in this case.
Meanwhile, Revanna will have to spend some more days in Parappana Agrahara Central Prison as the Special Court for Elected Representatives on Thursday adjourned his bail plea hearing to Monday.
The SIT detained the four people based on the statements of Babanna, accused No. 2 in the case. They have been identified as HK Sujay, Madhu, Thimmappa and Manu. Thimappa is an advocate.
The abduction case against Revanna and Babanna was registered by KR Nagar police on May 2. Babanna was arrested on May 3. The victim was rescued from Revanna’s PA Rajashekar’s house at Kalenahalli in Hunsur taluk. However, JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy, brother of Revanna, claimed that the woman was arrested from a different place. Kumaraswamy expressed doubts over the abduction of the victim as her statements have not been recorded before a magistrate though she was rescued five days ago.
Unable to sleep
Revanna is said to have been awake till 1 am on Thursday as he could not sleep in his cell. He reportedly had dinner served in the jail and took medicines. He woke up at 5.30 am on Thursday and read some Kannada and English newspapers. There is no television for him in the prison.
Second notice
The SIT has issued a second notice to BJP leader and advocate Devaraje Gowda and absconding Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna’s former driver Kartik. Both had responded to the earlier notice. Devaraje Gowda has been told to provide details, supporting his allegations against a few people, including Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. He has also been told to hand over the electronic devices and documents that he showed during his recent press conference in Bengaluru.
‘Ready to appear before SIT’
The SIT issued the second notice to Kartik following his interview to a vernacular news channel. In the interview, he reportedly made some startling revelations, which he did not disclose in his response to the first notice. Responding to the first notice, he handed over the mobile phone, which had the alleged sleaze videos.
He told the SIT that he had given a 4GB memory card containing videos and photographs to Devaraje Gowda. Those videos and photographs were in circulation. The videos and other digital evidence in Karthik’s phone given to the SIT have not been circulated.
LR Shivarame Gowda, former MP, against whom Devaraje Gowda had made some allegations, said that he is ready to appear before the SIT.
It is said that two of the nine victims have refused to give their statements to SIT. The statements of the six victims have been recorded.