In a twist to the sex video scandal in Karnataka involving JDS MP Prajwal Revanna, the National Commission for Women (NCW) said on Thursday that one of the woman complainants in the case has claimed that she was forced by a group of people claiming to be cops to lodge a false complaint after being threatened with harassment.

Taking a cue from the NCW’s allegation, former Chief Minister and JDS state President H.D. Kumaraswamy on Thursday night accused the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case of threatening the victims with prostitution to extract false statements.

The SIT officers are threatening the victims that if they don’t make statements in favour of the Congress government, they will be charged with prostitution, the JDS leader claimed.

“The investigating officers are going to the doorsteps of the victims and threatening them. Tell us, isn’t it a fact that the SIT officers are threatening the victims with false prostitution cases against them? Is this how the probe is being conducted,” Mr Kumaraswamy questioned Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, who earlier described the sex video scandal as the biggest sex scandal in the world.

“Where have you kept the rescued woman who was kidnapped? Why is she not being produced before the court? Do you support the act of distribution of private videos of the victims,” Mr Kumaraswamy asked Mr Gowda,

Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna is the grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, and son of JD-S MLA H.D. Revanna, who has been arrested for his alleged role in the kidnapping of a victim of the sex scandal involving his son. Mr Kumaraswamy is the younger brother of H.D. Revanna.

Stating that there is no question of defending Prajwal Revanna, Mr Kumaraswamy said, “Everyone should respect the law and the guilty should be punished. H.D. Deve Gowda has four sons and two daughters. We have our own businesses and families. I had gone to Hassan only at the time of the Assembly elections.”

Meanwhile, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara defended the SIT probe, saying that it is functioning efficiently.

The state government doesn’t need to reply to all the allegations being levelled by the JDS, he said.

“The SIT is conducting a probe and the state government has taken the matter seriously,” he added.

“I can’t answer everyone. If they have a complaint against the SIT, let them file it. The investigation is underway and once the report is submitted, all the details will be made available. If the victims are blackmailed over the videos, action would be initiated against the guilty,” Mr Parameshwara said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Indian-American Republican leader Vivek Ramaswamy was told by American author Ann Coulter in his podcast that she wouldn’t have voted for him in the US presidential election because he is an “Indian”.

Later, Mr Ramaswamy in a post on the microblogging website X said he respects Ms Coulter because “she had the guts to speak her mind.”

“Ann Coulter  told me flat-out to my face that she couldn’t vote for me ‘because you’re an Indian,’ even though she agreed with me more than most other candidates. I disagree with her but respect she had the guts to speak her mind. It was a riveting hour. The TRUTH podcast is back,” Mr Ramaswamy said in the post.

From the beginning of the podcast, Ms Coulter went on to take swipes at the Indian-American leader who tried to run for US President, but had to eventually support Donald Trump’s candidature.

“… Fantastic opening monologue. I too am a fan of yours. I am going to make a point to make it fun. You’re so bright and articulate. I guess I can call you articulate since you’re not an American black – can’t say that about them, it’s derogatory – I agree with many, many things you say probably more than most other candidates. But I still would not have voted for you because you’re an Indian,” Ms Coulter said.

.@AnnCoulter told me flat-out to my face that she couldn’t vote for me “because you’re an Indian,” even though she agreed with me more than most other candidates. I disagree with her but respect she had the guts to speak her mind. It was a riveting hour. The TRUTH podcast is back https://t.co/neVjKSs6e9

— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) May 8, 2024

In announcing the podcast, Mr Ramaswamy clearly mentioned the discussion between the two had some ‘interesting’ bits.

“Ann Coulter challenged me. I challenged her. This episode will challenge you. You’re not going to want to miss it,” he had posted on X.

Back when Mr Ramaswamy announced he would run for president and would be Mr Trump’s replacement, Mr Trump had largely avoided criticising the Indian-American leader due to his strong praise and defence of the former US President.

However, the criticisms started mounting as voters started making their voices heard in the first-in-the-nation caucuses, and as Ramaswamy became more direct in laying out the case for why he was the Trump alternative.

US disputed Russia’s claims of intervention in the ongoing Lok Sabha election. “No, of course, we don’t involve ourselves in elections in India as we don’t involve ourselves in elections anywhere in the world. Those are decisions for the people of India to make,” it said. Russia described US accusations as reflection of their misunderstanding of India’s national mentality.