Prajwal Revanna case: SIT files 13,712-page chargesheet; former aides named as key conspirators
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has filed a massive 13,712-page chargesheet before a civil court in Hassan, shedding light on the alleged conspiracy behind the viral pen drive scandal.
Hassan: In a major development in the case involving alleged circulation of obscene videos linked to former MP Prajwal Revanna, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has filed a massive 13,712-page chargesheet before a civil court in Hassan, shedding light on the alleged conspiracy behind the viral pen drive scandal.
The investigation, initiated based on a complaint by advocate Poornachandra—who served as a JD(S) agent during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections—has revealed that individuals once closely associated with Prajwal played a crucial role in the dissemination of the videos.
According to the chargesheet, former aides including Naveen Gowda, Karthik, Chetan and Harish allegedly orchestrated the leak. Karthik, who worked as a driver for Prajwal, is said to have secretly accessed and copied videos from a mobile device. Naveen, who previously handled auditing work related to the Revanna family, and Chetan, a former JD(S) functionary and Belur youth leader, were reportedly involved in strategising the distribution.
The probe further states that personal and political grievances may have contributed to the fallout. Chetan is believed to have distanced himself from JD(S) after feeling sidelined during elections, later joining the Indian National Congress. Naveen too had shifted political allegiance earlier, indicating possible motives behind the alleged conspiracy.
The chargesheet details that after public allegations were made by Devaraje Gowda regarding the existence of such videos, the accused allegedly coordinated among themselves, procured pen drives, and loaded them with the video content for circulation. Investigators claim that the distribution network was planned and executed with intent to cause maximum impact during the election period.
However, the SIT has also provided relief to some individuals initially suspected of involvement. Names linked to MLA Preetham Gowda and MP Shreyas Patel—including Sharath, Kiran and Puttaraju—have reportedly been cleared due to lack of evidence. The found no direct role played by them in the viral dissemination of the videos.
The filing of the voluminous chargesheet marks a critical step in the legal proceedings, with the court expected to examine the evidence and decide on further action.
The case has triggered significant political ripples in Karnataka, raising questions about internal rivalries, misuse of personal data, and the intersection of politics and criminal activity.
