How Rape Accused Prajwal Revanna's Arrest Unfolded | Explained

Bengaluru: Amid high-voltage drama surrounding the Karnataka sex tape scandal, rape accused Prajwal Revanna, who returned to India from Germany on Friday was taken into custody by a team of SIT officials probing the sexual allegations against him. A large number of policemen were deployed at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru to ensure that he was taken safely to the police station for investigation.

Prajwal had left India on April 27, a day after voting for the Lok Sabha elections took place in his constituency. He was taken into custody in a rather fast-tracked procedure by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the early hours of May 31. 

Here is how the arrest unfolded:

• Prajwal Revanna who was travelling in a private business class Lufthansa Flight LH-764 from Munich to Bengaluru landed at Terminal-2 of the airport around 00:47 hours on Friday.
• The immigration commissioner, who was entrusted to handover all sets of documents to Prajwal's lawyers and the SIT probing the case, had arrived at the airport around 11:45 PM on Thursday. 
• Prajwal Revanna was taken into custody by the Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF) sleuths shortly after his arrival at the Bengaluru airport.
• The Hassan MP was then made to complete all due formalities with the immigration department. Revanna's lawyer was also believed to be present at the airport to assist him with the completion of formalities.
• The tainted JDS leader was reportedly made to sign over 50 sheets of documents relating to his travel and past whereabouts.  
• According to officials, he was escorted through a different exit, keeping in mind the security concerns.
• The CISF officials subsequently handed him over to the SIT after completion of formalities. 
• The entire process of clearance for Prajwal's exit from the airport was fast-tracked to last for about an hour.   
• The team of SIT officials will now interrogate Prajwal Revanna in connection with the allegations levelled against him.

The 33-year-old Prajwal, grandson of former Prime Minister and JDS patriarch HD Deve Gowda, is facing charges of sexually abusing several women and recording their videos. He has so far been booked in three cases of sexual assault.

Exactly a month after he left the country, Prajwal Revanna had on May 27 released a video stating he will appear before the SIT on May 31.

He had left for Germany on April 27, a day after Hassan went to polls. A 'Blue Corner Notice' seeking information on his whereabouts was issued by the Interpol earlier, following a request by the SIT via the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

A Special Court for Elected Representatives had on May 18 issued an arrest warrant against Prajwal Revanna, following an application moved by the SIT. The Congress-led Karnataka government has urged the Centre to cancel his diplomatic passport.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has served a show-cause notice to Prajwal asking why his diplomatic passport should not be cancelled as sought by the Karnataka government in view of allegations of sexual abuse against him.

The MP, terming the cases against him as false and alleging political conspiracy, had claimed in a video statement issued earlier this week that he was in depression.

He had also field an anticipatory bail plea at the Principal City and Sessions Court for Elected Representatives on May 29, which issued a notice to the SIT to file objections, before posting the hearing for today.

The scandal has raised a political storm with the ruling Congress and BJP-JDS engaged in a slugfest.