SIT charge sheet names 39 for circulating explicit content involving Prajwal Revanna
Bengaluru (PTI): An SIT probing the circulation of explicit videos and photographs linked to multiple sexual abuse allegations has filed a charge sheet against 39 individuals in a court in Hassan, sources said on Wednesday.
Poornachandra Tejaswi M G, who was an election agent for former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna during the Lok Sabha elections in 2024, filed a complaint with Hassan police alleging the dissemination of obscene content through pendrives and messaging platforms during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, with investigators suspecting an organised effort to influence voters.
Prajwal Revanna, the grandson of former prime minister Deve Gowda, was convicted in a sexual assault case.
Sources said that the accused, who circulated the obscene videos purportedly of Prajwal Revanna, had allegedly purchased 70 pendrives to circulate the obscene content, and the police found that one of them procured them by making a UPI payment. They added that transaction details have been collected as part of the evidence.
The investigation was initially based on a complaint filed with the cybercrime police in April 2024, alleging that morphed images and videos were being circulated widely in the constituency to influence the electoral outcome.
A case was registered under the provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2008, along with relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
Subsequently, the State government handed over the case to the SIT constituted to probe the larger allegations of sexual abuse. The probe team examined the role of over 50 individuals and, based on available material, named 39 persons in the charge sheet.
The charge sheet, running into over 13,000 pages, includes extensive documentary and digital evidence collected during the investigation, officials said.
Meanwhile, the complainant expressed dissatisfaction over the development, alleging that names of "influential people" had been dropped. He urged the authorities to "dig deeper" and identify the alleged kingpin behind the circulation network.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
