Prajwal Revanna Apologies, Says, ‘Will Appear Before SIT On May 31’

Karnataka lawmaker Prajwal Revanna – who fled to Germany last month, shortly after horrific sex crimes allegations by women who said he forced them into sexual acts that were then filmed – released a video statement Monday afternoon, claiming he has been suffering from “depression”.

“I apologize to my parents… I was in depression. I will come (back to India) and appear before the SIT (a special investigative team set up by the state government) on May 31 (Friday),” Revanna said.

Here’s the transcript: I have come to give information about my whereabouts. I have not run away. My political development is intolerably contrived. There is a conspiracy against me. Some forces have conspired together against me. However, I apologize to my grandfather, and JDS workers. I will come to India on 31st May at 10 am and attend the hearing before the SIT. The foreign trip was pre-arranged. However, I will come to India and face trial,” Prajwal Revanna said in the video.

“I will arrive in Karnataka this Friday and cooperate with the SIT investigation. I have great respect for the law. I was shocked to hear the allegations made against me. For this reason, I was in isolation for a few days. The foreign trip was pre-arranged. I came to know about the case after I came abroad. Everyone including Rahul Gandhi gave statements against me on the stage. By that, he carried out a political conspiracy. However, I will come to the state and cooperate with the investigation. I am confident I will come out of this case free of charge.”

Revanna is a senior Janata Dal (Secular) leader and the grandson of party patriarch and ex-Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and nephew of ex-Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.