Alleged sexual abuse case against JD(S) MLC Suraj Revanna handed over to CID
Bengaluru (PTI): A case of alleged sexual abuse of a male party worker against JD(S) MLC Suraj Revanna has been handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for probe, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Sunday.
Earlier in the day, Suraj Revanna -- the brother of former MP Prajwal Revanna who is facing allegations of sexually abusing several women -- was arrested in Hassan on charges of "unnatural offences" against him, police sources said.
He was booked on Saturday for allegedly sexually abusing a party worker a few days ago and has been booked under different sections of the IPC, including "unnatural offences."
"The case registered in Hassan District Holenarasipura Rural Police Station under sections 377, 342, 506, 34 IPC is transferred to CID for further investigation with immediate effect. The case file should be handed over to CID for further investigation, forthwith," a message from the office of the Director General and Inspector General of Police to Director General of Police CID and Superintendent of Police, Hassan said.
The Superintendent of Police, Hassan district is directed to send the case file with concerned IO (Investigation Officer) to hand over personally to the Investigation Officer in CID, it said.
The Director General of Police, CID (Special Units and Economic Offences), Bengaluru has been asked to arrange to take up further investigation, and to send the detailed report after the completion of the investigation of the case.
Speaking to reporters, Home Minister Parameshwara said following the complaint, police have registered an FIR, they have secured Suraj Revanna and the inquiry is going on.
The case is being handed over to the CID, he said, adding "a series of similar cases were given to CID, this is also being given to CID."
Regarding Suraj Revanna's complaint, he said, "whatever action needs to be taken on that, will be taken."
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On Suraj Revanna alleging a conspiracy against his family, Parameshwara said, "complaint has come, based on it whatever action needs to be taken in accordance with law, is being taken. Other than that I don't know about any political conspiracy that he has alleged."
Suraj was questioned at Cyber Economic and Narcotics (CEN) crime police station in Hassan overnight, before he was arrested this morning, the sources said, adding he was later taken to Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS) for medical examination.
A 27 year-old man had complained to the police that Suraj Revanna, the eldest son of Holenarasipura MLA H D Revanna, sexually abused him at his farmhouse in Ghannikada on June 16.
Based on the complaint, Holenarasipura police registered a case against the JD(S) MLC under IPC Sections 377 (unnatural offences), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 506 (criminal intimidation) late on Saturday evening.
However, Suraj Revanna (37), grandson of former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and nephew of Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy, has categorically refuted the charge. Suraj had also alleged the man had filed a false complaint against him in a bid to extort Rs 5 crore from him.
On Friday, police registered a case of extortion against the JD(S) worker on a complaint by Suraj Revanna's close aide Shivakumar.
Shivakumar had alleged that the party worker was trying to extort money from Suraj Revanna by threatening to lodge a false case of sexual assault against him.
It has been alleged that while the man demanded Rs 5 crore from Suraj Revanna, later it was reduced to Rs 2 crore.
Suraj's brother and former Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna is in police custody for allegedly sexually assaulting several women and was arrested upon his return from Germany last month.
Prajwal, who lost from Hassan Lok Sabha seat, was arrested on May 31 soon after returning from Germany where he was holed up after rape and intimidation cases were registered against him.
Their father H D Revanna and mother Bhavani are out on bail. They have been accused of kidnapping and keeping an alleged victim of their son Prajwal's sexual assaults.
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India proposes preferential trade agreement with Mexico to deal with high tariffs
New Delhi (PTI): India has proposed a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with Mexico to help domestic exporters deal with the steep tariffs announced by the South American country, a top government official said on Monday.
Mexico has decided to impose steep import tariffs - ranging from about 5 per cent to as high as 50 per cent on a wide range of goods (about 1,463 tariff lines) from countries that do not have free trade agreements with Mexico, including India, China, South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said that India has engaged with the country on the issue.
"Technical level talks are on...The only fast way forward is to try to get a preferential trade agreement (PTA) because an FTA (free trade agreement) will take a lot of time. So we are trying to see what can be a good way forward," he told reporters here.
While in an FTA two trading partners either significantly reduce or eliminate import duties on maximum number of goods traded between them, in a PTA, duties are cut or removed on a limited number of products.
Trading partners of Mexico cannot file a compliant against the decision on imposing high tariffs as they are WTO (World Trade Organisation) compatible.
The duties are within their bound rates, he said, adding that their primary target was not India.
"We have proposed a PTA because its a WTO-compatible way forward... we can do a PTA and try to get concessions that are required for Indian supply chains and similarly offer them concessions where they have export interests in India," Agrawal said.
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Citing support for local production and correction of trade imbalances, Mexico has approved an increase in MFN (most favoured nation) import tariffs (5-50 per cent) with effect from January 1, 2026 on 1,455 tariff lines (or product categories) within the WTO framework, targeting non-FTA partners.
Preliminary estimates suggest that this affects India's around USD 2 billion exports to Mexico particularly -- automobile, two-wheelers, auto parts, textiles, iron and steel, plastics, leather and footwear.
The measure is also aimed at curbing Chinese imports.
India-Mexico merchandise trade totalled USD 8.74 billion in 2024, with exports USD 5.73 billion, imports USD 3.01 billion, and a trade surplus of USD 2.72 billion.
The government has been continuously and comprehensively assessing Mexico's tariff revisions since the issue emerged, engaging stakeholders, safeguarding the interests of Indian exporters, and pursuing constructive dialogue to ensure a stable trade environment benefiting businesses and consumers in both countries.
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Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai has said that Mexico's decision is a matter of concern, particularly for sectors like automobiles and auto components, machinery, electrical and electronics, organic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and plastics.
"Such steep duties will erode our competitiveness and risk, disrupting supply chains that have taken years to develop," Sahai said, adding that this development also underlines the little urgency for India and Mexico to fast-track a comprehensive trade agreement.
Domestic auto component manufacturers will face enhanced cost pressures with Mexico hiking duties on Indian imports, according to industry body ACMA.
