Indian ex-PM's grandson under fire for 'sexually abusing, filming hundreds of women'

An inquiry is underway into claims that the grandson of a former Indian prime minister sexually assaulted hundreds of women in the southern state of Karnataka.

Prajwal Revanna, 33, is a departing member of the Lok Sabha from the Hassan district and the grandson of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, according to Independent.

In the current seven-phase general election, he is running for a second term as a member of parliament (MP) for his Janata Dal (Secular) Party, a significant ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of the current prime minister, Narendra Modi.

Just one day after the general elections on Friday, in which half of the state cast ballots, thousands of purported films, in which Revanna was allegedly seen sexually abusing women, started making the rounds.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of the opposition Congress party announced in a statement that a "special investigation team in connection with Prajwal Revanna's obscene video case" had been established by the Karnataka state government.

"Obscene video clips are circulating ... where it appears that women have been sexually assaulted," he added.

On Tuesday, Revanna was barred from the party until the investigation into his alleged sexual abuse was concluded. Local reports state that he has fled the country and is thought to be in Germany.

Based on the testimony of a woman who worked at his family home, the state police on Sunday filed a complaint against Revanna and listed his father, HD Revanna, as a suspect.

"I will not react about anything," his father, a member of the Karnataka legislative assembly, told reporters on Monday. "Since this has been handed over to a special investigation team, I will not say anything that will affect it," he said.