Leak of Hassan video clippings: HD Kumaraswamy demands CBI probe, asks CM to fire his deputy Shivakumar

JDS State President HD Kumaraswamy on Tuesday sought a CBI probe into the alleged crime on women in Hassan including the leak and widespread circulation of explicit videos ahead of the April 26 polls even as the special investigation team (SIT) awaited arrival of Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna in connection with the case.

The former CM accused Deputy CM DK Shivakumar of hatching a conspiracy and playing a key role in the distribution of pen drives and urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to sack him from the Cabinet. “We are not going to spare this case. People responsible for it, including those behind the circulation of videos, should pay a price. If the CM has any sense of morality, he must fire Shivakumar from the Cabinet,” he said.

Kumaraswamy, addressing a media conference, expressed serious doubts over the fairness of SIT investigations, saying the top police officials were meeting the CM and Dy CM every day and were acting at their behest.

The senior JDS leader called the SIT as Siddaramaiah / Shivakumar investigation team which was being manipulated by the top two political bosses. Kumaraswamy also added his party was aggregable to a judicial probe too if it was headed by an apex court or high court judge.

The SIT is investigating cases of alleged abuse of women by Prajwal Revanna and another case of molestation and attempted kidnapping against his father, senior JDS MLA HD Revanna. Kumaraswamy alleged that the SIT had been used to trap Revanna in the case by setting up an abduction complaint though no one had made a statement before the court to that effect.

“This is the most unfortunate development in our state. I am not trying to protect anyone. Whoever is behind the crime should face the law,” he said.

NOTICE TO RAHUL GANDHI:The JDS leader urged the SIT to issue a notice to AICC leader Rahul Gandhi for making a public statement that 400 women had been abused, including those under 16 years of age. The SIT, he said, should gather information from Gandhi as he had revealed some figures and seem to be privy to some details.

Kumaraswamy alleged about 25,000 pen drives with explicit video clippings were distributed ahead of the April 26 polls, not just in Hassan but also in other places including Bengaluru Rural and Mandya. On April 21 itself, the Hassan MP’s polling agent gave a complaint to the Hassan Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer saying Naveen Gowda, Karthik Gowda, Chetan and Puttanna were behind the distribution of pen drives containing explicit videos. “Why has the SIT not acted on them? Why have they been spared? Why not a blue corner against them?” the former CM asked.Kumaraswamy said Naveen Gowda had been seen alongside the Hassan Congress candidate Shreyas Patel. He was behind the WhatsApp channel that leaked the video clippings, he added.