A special court in Bengaluru has convicted former Janata Dal (Secular) Member of Parliament Prajwal Revanna. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in a rape case involving a domestic worker. The court also imposed a fine of ₹11.6 lakh, a substantial portion of which is to be paid as compensation to the victim.
Special Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat delivered the verdict. He found Revanna guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology (IT) Act. The conviction is based on charges of repeated sexual assault, criminal intimidation, and misuse of electronic devices.
This is the first conviction. It is in the series of three rape cases and one sexual harassment case filed against the former MP. The prosecution presented 26 witnesses. They also presented over 180 documentary pieces of evidence. This includes video recordings allegedly made by the accused himself. It also includes forensic and DNA reports, and corroborating statements from the victim.
The case drew national attention earlier last year. Explicit videos allegedly involving Revanna were circulated in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Following the leak, Revanna fled to Germany, prompting a nationwide uproar. He was later arrested upon his return to India in May 2024 and has remained in custody since then.
Revanna, the grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and a prominent figure in Karnataka’s political landscape, has denied the allegations. The court, however, concluded that the evidence overwhelmingly supported the prosecution’s claims. It also found that the nature of the crimes warranted the maximum punishment.
The court emphasized the need for justice in cases involving abuse of power, particularly by individuals holding public office. “Such acts violate the dignity and autonomy of the victim. They also undermine public trust in elected representatives,” the judge remarked in the sentencing order.
Revanna retains the right to appeal the conviction and sentence before a higher court.
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