The Aryavarth Express
Agency (Karnataka): Thousands of protesters participated in the ‘Hassan Chalo’ demonstration organized by the Union of Karnataka People’s Movement in Hassan district, demanding the arrest of suspended Janata Dal (Secular) MP Prajwal Revanna over an alleged obscene video case.
Protestors called for Revanna’s arrest upon his expected arrival at Bengaluru airport on May 3Around 10,000 representatives from 113 organizations across Karnataka joined the procession, which began at Hassan’s Hemavati statue and culminated in an open meeting at New Bus Stand Road near the District Collector’s office.
Key participants included CPM leader Subhashini Ali, Janavadi Mahila Sangathan president Meenakshi Bali, writers Banu Mushtaq and Roop Hassan, alongside various organizational representatives. The rally attracted diverse sections of society, including women, farmers, students, gender minorities, intellectuals, artists, and retired government officials from Bengaluru, Mysore, Hassan, Mangaluru, Mandya, and Chikkamagaluru.
Leaders stressed the need to arrest those who distributed pen drives containing the incriminating videos, arguing it was essential to protect women’s honor. The union organized the protest under a unified flag and pamphlet, avoiding individual banners and flags. A social media poster campaign supported the protest.
Protest visuals showed participants holding posters and raising slogans demanding Revanna’s imprisonment. Revanna is under investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Karnataka government, following a woman’s complaint of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation.
Revanna filed an application for anticipatory bail on Wednesday, ahead of his scheduled return to India on Friday. The SIT recently arrested two prime suspects, Naveen Gowda and Chetan, accused of distributing the pen drives. The arrests occurred as they sought anticipatory bail from the High Court.
In a self-made video released on May 27, Revanna claimed he would appear before the SIT for questioning on May 3He alleged a political conspiracy against him, asserting that his trip was pre-planned and there were no charges against him during the Karnataka elections on April 26. Officials believe Revanna is currently in Germany.
Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge stated that Revanna would be taken into custody upon landing. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has initiated action to revoke Revanna’s diplomatic passport, issuing a show-cause notice on May 2MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that Revanna has 10 working days to respond.