The curious case of pen drives in Prajwal Revanna's sex videos saga

In a tale laden with intrigue and allegations of blackmail, the emergence of hundreds of sex videos allegedly filmed by JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna sent shockwaves through Karnataka. Mystery shrouds the origin of these explicit videos and the spread of pen drives containing them.

Numerous flash drives with more than 2,900 videos, purportedly recorded by MP Prajwal Revanna himself, were distributed across Hassan district days before the Lok Sabha polls on April 26.

These graphic videos, which eventually found their way onto social media platforms, triggered public outcry and put Karnataka politics on the boil.

BJP LEADER PUTS SPOTLIGHT ON PRAJWAL REVANNA

Local BJP leader G Devaraje Gowda, who previously contested against Prajwal Revanna's father in the Karnataka assembly polls, said he gained access to the videos through Prajwal's former driver, Karthik Gowda.

Devaraje stated that he obtained the videos through his involvement in Karthik Gowda’s legal fight against the Revanna family.

In a letter to state BJP chief BY Vijayendra and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Devaraje urged against giving Prajwal the Hassan Lok Sabha ticket under the JD(S)-BJP alliance. He flagged the serious allegations against the JD(S) leader and warned of potential political repercussions. He also claimed that Congress leaders were in possession another pen drive containing similar videos.

“If we align with the JD(S) and if we nominate a JD(S) candidate in Hassan, these videos can be used as a brahmastra and we will be tainted as a party that aligned with the family of a rapist. This will be a big blow to the image of our party nationally,” Devaraje Gowda said in the letter.

WHISTLEBLOWER'S TESTIMONY

Karthik Gowda, the former driver of Prajwal Revanna, denied sharing the pen drive with Congress leaders as alleged by Devaraje Gowda. Karthik told India Today TV that he sought legal assistance from Devaraje after facing harassment from the Revanna family over a land deal.

He claimed that Devaraje assured him of legal support but failed to follow through on his promises. "I don't know for what purpose he used it [the pen drive]. But he never took the case forward," said Gowda. "When I asked for him to return the copy, he said that he needed to produce in the court."

Gowda accused Devaraje of betraying him. "I never gave the pen drive to anyone but Devaraje Gowda as I was afraid that they might dismiss my case because of their good terms with JDS leaders. But Devarajegowda too cheated me."