Almost two-thirds of funds spent by Special Investigation Teams (SIT) formed to investigate various cases in Karnataka since 2023 went towards legal expenses in sexual assault cases involving former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, the Government said on Monday.
While the total legal and investigation expenses incurred by the SITs in various cases amounted to Rs 4.54 crore, Rs 2.96 crore (65.19 per cent) was the cost of fighting the Revanna cases in the trial court, the Karnataka High Court, and the Supreme Court.
Funds spent on investigating the sexual assault cases against Revanna amounted to Rs 33.91 lakh, according to a response tabled by Home Minister G Parameshwara in reply to an unstarred question raised by BJP MLA Munirathna during the winter session of the legislature.
The total cost of investigation and legal fees in the cases against Revanna was Rs 3.29 crore.
Of the legal expenses incurred in the Revanna case, Rs 2.41 crore was the fee paid to Special Public Prosecutor Ravivarma Kumar, and Rs 28.37 lakh was the fee paid to SPP B N Jagadish to represent the state in the high court. Rs 15.5 lakh was the fee paid to senior advocate Kapil Sibal for representing the state in the Supreme Court. Rs 12.7 lakh was spent on litigation in the trial court.
The expenses incurred in the Bitcoin scam cases investigated by the SIT amounted to Rs 39.98 lakh, spent over three years, apart from the Rs 29.75 lakh spent as legal fees in the lower court and the high court.
An SIT was formed to investigate a criminal complaint and rape allegations against Munirathna, who raised the question in the legislature. Rs 23.52 lakh was spent on the investigation in the case over two years, apart from the special prosecutor’s fee of Rs 21.08 lakh for representing the state in the trial court.
Story continues below this ad
And the total investigation and legal expenses incurred by the SIT formed to investigate the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation scam was Rs 8.83 lakh.
The expenses of three other SITs formed to investigate the police sub-inspector recruitment scam, the voter ID theft case, and the Dharmasthala secret burials case have not been disclosed as the investigations are ongoing.