'Surrender or face my anger': HD Deve Gowda's stern warning to grandson Prajwal Revanna

Prajwal, who is an NDA candidate from Karnataka's Hassan Lok Sabha seat, faces serious charges of sexual abuse, which has triggered a national uproar.

Allegations against him include include rape, sexual assault, disrobing women, and forcibly video-graphing sexual acts to intimidate the victims.

"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," Deve Gowda wrote in his public letter.

Prajwal reportedly fled to Germany on April 27, a day after polling concluded in Hassan, where he was re-contesting his seat.

His sudden departure just days before the allegations became public has raised suspicions.

A Blue Corner Notice has been issued by Interpol at the behest of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and an arrest warrant from a Special Court is currently active.

In his letter, Deve Gowda's pain and betrayal are palpable.

He recounted the shock and pain inflicted upon his family, colleagues, and supporters and added that if Prajwal is found guilty, he should face the harshest legal penalties.

Gowda's son and former Karnataka Chief Minister, HD Kumaraswamy has also supported his stance. Prajwal is the son of Deve Gowda's other son, HD Revanna.

HD Revanna, a 66-year-old former minister, was arrested by the state police on May 4 in connection with an alleged kidnapping case of a woman allegedly raped by Prajwal Revanna and is currently out on bail.

"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 law will take care of the accusations against him, but not listening to the family will ensure his total isolation. If he has any respect left for me, he has to return immediately," Deve Gowda's letter reads.

The Congress government has set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe these cases.

However, the BJP and JD(S)—NDA partners—have called for the cases to be handed over to the CBI and for action against those responsible for circulating the obscene videos.