Bengaluru Court Finds Former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna Guilty of Rape; Verdict on Sentence Awaited

Bengaluru, August 25 : In a significant development, the Special Court for MPs and MLAs in Bengaluru has found former JD(S) Member of Parliament Prajwal Revanna guilty in a rape and obscene video case. Prajwal, who is the grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, was convicted on Friday by Judge Santhosh Gajanana Bhat.

The court is set to pronounce the quantum of punishment on Saturday, after hearing final arguments from both Prajwal and his legal counsel. The verdict marks a turning point in a case that has drawn nationwide attention since its emergence during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Prajwal Revanna was present in court when the judgment was read. Eyewitnesses reported that he was visibly emotional, wiping tears and struggling to maintain composure. After leaving the courtroom, he sat in a chair, appearing overwhelmed and distressed.

The judgment had originally been scheduled for July 30 but was deferred due to the need for additional clarifications. After considering further inputs from the prosecution and defence, the court delivered its final decision on August 1.

Revanna has been in judicial custody for over 14 months. The case against him stems from a complaint lodged by a domestic worker from K.R. Nagar, who accused him of rape. The court examined 26 pieces of evidence before reaching a conclusion.

In addition to the current conviction, Prajwal is also facing three other similar cases. Multiple videos surfaced during the 2024 general elections, allegedly showing him sexually assaulting various women and recording the acts without their consent. One particularly disturbing video showed the assault of an elderly domestic worker at a farmhouse in Holenarasipura. In the footage, the victim pleads with Revanna, reminding him of her long-standing service to his family, including cooking for his father and elders.

The public backlash was swift, and as the controversy gained momentum, Prajwal fled the country. The first police complaint against him was lodged by a victim from Holenarasipura. After mounting pressure and public appeals from both former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, Prajwal returned to India on May 31, 2024, and was immediately arrested by Bengaluru Police.

Since then, he has been incarcerated in Bengaluru Central Jail. His attempts to secure bail were repeatedly rejected by various courts. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the matter filed charges under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 376(2)(n) for repeated rape, 506 for criminal intimidation, and 354-related provisions dealing with sexual harassment, disrobing, and voyeurism. Relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act were also invoked due to the use of digital media to record the crimes.

The prosecution presented strong forensic evidence, including semen samples and the recovered video clips. The court’s verdict underscores the gravity of the charges and signals that justice is being pursued, irrespective of the accused’s political connections.

Team Maverick.