BENGALURU: The JD(S) on Tuesday suspended Prajwal Revanna, the NDA candidate from the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency in Karnataka and former Prime Minister Deve Gowda’s grandson, over his alleged involvement in a sex scandal. JD(S) state president HD Kumaraswamy told the media that Prajval Revanna would be permanently expelled from the party if he is proven guilty in the probe conducted by the Special Investigation Team set up by the Karnataka government.

The decision was taken in the core committee meeting of the JD(S) held in Hubballi city. The Core Committee Chairperson, JD(S) MLA G.T. Deve Gowda stated that the suspension of Prajwal Revanna was made as per the decision of the party. "The decision has been conveyed to the National President H.D. Deve Gowda and he has also been requested to take a call on expelling Prajwal Revanna," he said.

The JD(S) leadership decided to suspend Prajwal as it believes that the obscene videos involving Prajwal, the JDS candidate in Hassan, will be a big setback for the party in the elections.

The pen drive containing the sex videos of hundreds of women allegedly involving Prajwal Revanna came into circulation three days before the first phase of polling on April 26. Following the complaint to the State Women’s Commission in this regard, the state government formed an SIT to probe the matter.

Meanwhile, Prajwal Revanna has left the country and is in an undisclosed location. Kumaraswamy said that if the SIT summons Prajwal, he will attend the probe no matter where he is. The matter has taken a political turn ahead of the second phase of polling in Karnataka scheduled on May 7 for 14 Lok Sabha seats.