Karnataka probe team warns people against storing videos in sex tapes case

The Karnataka Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged sexual abuse of women by JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna has said that those in possession of videos related to the incident were liable to face legal action and asked them to delete the clips. In a statement, the probe team cautioned the public against sharing explicit video clips on social media.

"Storing of videos, images and audio clips also attracts criminal action under the law, so the public should be aware of this to avoid any storage or transmitting of such videos, images and audio clips," the probe team said in a statement.

The statement also clarified the term "originator" as a person who sends, generates, stores or transmits any electronic message or causes any electronic message to be sent, generated, stored or transmitted to any other person, but does not include an intermediary.

The SIT said sharing such videos would damage the reputation and honour of victims. "It is easy to trace people sharing these videos on messenger services, so action will be taken against such individuals," the SIT said.

"Therefore, it is advised to the public to delete the video/audio/photos of victims of sexual crimes from their devices to avoid legal action," it said.

The SIT had earlier issued a warning against spreading videos and photos of the survivors, threatening legal consequences for those involved. A helpline was also established for women affected by the alleged scandal to approach the SIT.

The SIT was formed after hundreds of explicit videos depicting Prajwal Revanna allegedly engaging in acts of sexual abuse against multiple women started doing the rounds last month.

A woman who worked in Prajwal's household accused the MP and his father - JD(S) MLA and former minister HD Revanna - of sexual harassment. Another person has accused HD Revanna of kidnapping his mother, who worked at his farmhouse. Revanna was arrested on Sunday.