Bengaluru: Amid the political storm over the sexual abuse allegations against Hassan MP and JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna, a lookout notice has been issued against him.

Speaking to reporters, Home Minister G Parameshwara said that he should appear before the Special Investigation Team probing the matter for questioning in connection with the allegations. He indicated that if he fails to turn up, he may be arrested.

Prajwal Revanna, who fled to Europe after the issue came to the fore and the government formed an SIT based on the complaint filed by one of the victims, had requested the SIT through his advocate for seven days’ time to appear before them for an inquiry. But the SIT has turned down his request.

Hassan MP Prajwal, seeking reelection from the Hassan Lok Sabha seat and being the grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and son of MLA HD Revanna, is embroiled in a political storm for his alleged involvement in a sexual abuse case.

A number of explicit visuals allegedly involving and shot by Prajwal have gone viral just a few days before Hassan went to the polls on April 26.

“They have to appear. If they don’t, they would be arrested,” the minister said, referring to Prajwal Revanna and HD Revanna.

The issue has caused a massive uproar, with the Congress party relentlessly attacking the regional party and its ally BJP over this issue. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, and others targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and questioned his silence.

In a post on X, Priyanka Gandhi wrote, “The leader on whose shoulder the PM puts his hand and gets himself photographed, the leader for whom the PM himself goes to campaign 10 days before the election. He praises him on the stage. Today, that leader from Karnataka is absconding from the country. Just hearing about his heinous crimes makes my heart tremble. He has ruined the lives of hundreds of women. Modi ji, will you remain silent?”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has hit back. He has said the BJP cannot remain with those who commit atrocities against women and questioned why the Congress government in Karnataka did not act against him earlier. “We (BJP) have an alliance with the JD(S). Now (Prajwal) Revanna’s CD has come. They (Congress) thought they can corner the BJP. I am making it clear here BJP cannot remain with those who commit atrocities against women,” the Home Minister has said.