Prajwal Revanna, Hasan’s former MP, is accused of sexual assault. | Photo credit: File photo

In what is being termed as a major breakthrough by the investigating agencies, the analysis of the underwear of one of the alleged rape victims of Prajwal Revanna has revealed the DNA of the former Member of Parliament from Hasan, apart from that of the woman.

What the tax sheet said

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) filed the case charge sheet in the case on September 9 earlier this year. In the charge sheet, the SIT submitted a video in which the victim, a 48-year-old woman who worked as a laborer in Prajwal Revanna’s family farm, is seen resisting the man’s advances but is raped. But the man’s face is not visible in the video. The charge sheet included a forensic report which showed that the man in the video was Prajwal Revanna.

The chargesheet also said that the DNA analysis report was awaited and the SIT would file a supplementary chargesheet as the report arrives. The DNA analysis report was submitted to the SIT recently. The report indicates that Prajwal Revanna and the victim’s DNA were found on the petticoat, which the victim is seen wearing in the video.

“The woman, traumatized by the rape, kept some sarees and underwear like petticoat in a cupboard in the commitment where she lived and later ran away from there. These clothes have not been washed. I found these clothes in the trim. One of the petticoats was matched to the one the woman is seen wearing in the film where she is raped. We have sent the clothes for DNA analysis,” said a senior SIT official.

Finding the former MP’s DNA on the woman’s underwear is further forensic evidence of sexual assault, sources said.

Also kidnapped

This victim was allegedly kidnapped at the behest of Prajwal Revanna’s parents – former minister HD Revanna and Bhavani Revanna – to prevent her from testifying against their son. She was rescued by the SIT from captivity. HD Ravanna and Bhavani Revanna have been accused in the kidnapping case and are out on bail.