Indian MP's 'sex abuse' tapes spark outrage

Thousands of videos allegedly showing an Indian MP sexually abusing women person circulated successful the confederate authorities of Karnataka, sparking outrage.

Police are investigating allegations against Prajwal Revanna who is accused of assaulting respective women.

Mr Revanna has not commented but an authoritative from his bureau denied the allegations, saying the videos are doctored.

The influential MP is the grandson of erstwhile premier curate HD Deve Gowda.

His begetter HD Revanna, who is simply a legislator successful the Karnataka authorities assembly, is besides an accused successful the constabulary ailment lodged by a erstwhile worker of the family. He has denied the allegations, calling them a governmental conspiracy.

On Monday, their enactment Janata Dal (Secular), oregon JD(S), announced it was suspending Prajwal Revanna. Founded by Mr Gowda, the enactment is warring the predetermination successful an confederation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party.

Karnataka's Chief Minister K Siddaramaiah said that a peculiar probe squad (SIT) volition look into the case, based connected a petition by the state's women's commission.

The allegations against Prajwal Revanna came to the fore a time aft his constituency Hassan voted successful the wide predetermination connected 26 April. Mr Revanna is the MP from Hassan successful the outgoing parliament and is seeking different term.

It's not wide who leaked the videos, but according to a study by the Indian Express newspaper, much than 2,000 pen drives were circulated up of the election. The clips, which reports accidental were changeable by Mr Revanna himself, showed the faces of the women helium had allegedly abused.

"The pen drives were kept connected autobus seats, astatine autobus stands and were fixed to radical successful nationalist places similar parks," an authoritative told the daily. "These pen drives had much than 2,000 files which included videos and photos. After a fewer hours, we saw these being wide shared connected WhatsApp."

Following the incident, Karnataka's women's committee main Nagalakshmi Chaudhary wrote to the authorities constabulary main seeking enactment against the perpetrators.

"Your humor boils erstwhile you spot immoderate of the videos," she told the BBC. "There is 1 pistillate who is begging... 'please don't, delight don't'. You consciousness sick."

On Sunday, a 47-year-old woman, who worked arsenic a navigator for the household and identified herself arsenic a relative of Mr Revanna's mother, filed a constabulary ailment alleging that she was sexually abused by the MP and his father.

"When I joined, six different maids would accidental they were frightened of Prajwal. The antheral employees, too, would inquire america to beryllium wary of [HD] Revanna and his lad Prajwal," she said successful her complaint.

"Whenever his woman was away, [HD] Revanna would repeatedly interaction maine inappropriately, disrobe maine and sexually battle me. While I was moving successful the kitchen, Prajwal would grope maine from behind," she added.

The pistillate said she decided to travel guardant aft watching clips of different victims online.

She besides accused Prajwal Revanna of abusing her daughter, and his begetter of stalking and transgression intimidation.

Police accidental Prajwal Revanna has near the country, with immoderate reports saying that helium is successful Germany. But his begetter has denied the assertion and said they were consenting to look investigation. "We won't tally distant scared. We're close here. We'll antagonistic these charges arsenic per the law," helium told reporters.

The lawsuit has sparked a governmental tempest successful Karnataka. Many questioned however idiosyncratic "accused of specified a horrific act" was permitted to permission without questioning.

A authorities curate wrote connected X, formerly Twitter, asking Mr Modi to explicate wherefore the confederation had fielded Prajwal Revanna for the predetermination "knowing that hundreds of women had been abused by the candidate".

The comments followed a study by The Hindu newspaper which said that a BJP person had informed the authorities enactment astir the video clips past year.

A BJP spokesperson told the NDTV quality channel, "We, arsenic a party, person thing to bash with the videos and neither bash we person immoderate comments connected the inquiry."

The JD(S) has besides distanced itself from the 2 politicians. HD Revanna's brother, erstwhile main curate HD Kumaraswamy, connected Monday called them "an embarrassment to society".

"Don't blasted the family," helium told reporters. "HD Revanna and his household are separate. I don't support way of his movements."

Senior enactment person GT Deve Gowda said enactment leaders would instrumentality disciplinary enactment against the 2 men if the charges were proven.