A special investigation team (SIT) has filed a 13,712-page chargesheet naming 39 people for allegedly circulating explicit videos and photographs linked to sexual abuse cases involving former MP Prajwal Revanna.
The case was based on a complaint filed by Poornachandra Tejaswi MG, who served as an election agent for Revanna, alleging that photos and videos carrying morphed images of the JD(S) candidate were being distributed through pen drives and WhatsApp messages across the constituency to influence voters and prevent support for Revanna.
The police registered a case under the Information Technology Act, 2008, and relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) before the investigation was transferred to the SIT constituted by the Karnataka government to probe multiple sexual abuse allegations against Revanna.
Naveen Kumar N R, also known as Naveen Gowda, has been listed as the first accused, along with Karthik N, a former driver of Revanna, Harish S N, his auditor, and Devaraje Gowda G, a lawyer associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Several of the accused are said to have links with local units of the Congress and the BJP. Investigators alleged that the accused procured around 70 pen drives to circulate the explicit material.
Prajwal Revanna is already convicted and hasn't been named in this particular charge sheet, an official in the prosecution team said.
