Prajwal Revanna Convicted in Rape Case, Breaks Down in Court
Former MP Prajwal Revanna Convicted in Rape Case
Suspended JD(S) leader and former Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna was found guilty on Thursday in one of the four rape cases filed against him. A special court in Bengaluru, which handles cases against MPs and MLAs, convicted him for the sexual assault of a 48-year-old woman.
The court is set to pronounce the quantum of punishment shortly. The verdict marks the first conviction in the series of allegations that rocked Karnataka politics last year.
Details of the Case and Court Proceedings
The convicted case pertains to the 2021 sexual assault of a domestic worker employed at the Revanna family’s farmhouse in Holenarasipura, Hassan district. The woman was reportedly raped twice — once at the farmhouse and again at Revanna’s Bengaluru residence. The accused allegedly recorded the assault on his mobile phone.
During the hearing, Revanna broke down emotionally and pleaded with the court for leniency. He stated, “I have a family. I haven’t seen my mother and father for six months now. Please give me a lesser sentence.”
He also claimed that the victim had not complained until videos surfaced and accused political rivals of manipulating the timing of the accusations ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Prosecution Seeks Maximum Sentence
The prosecution, led by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), has demanded life imprisonment. The trial concluded on July 18, with the verdict initially expected on July 30. However, the judge postponed the sentencing to August 1 to review technical evidence such as mobile location data.
The SIT had filed a comprehensive 1,632-page chargesheet in September 2024. It included testimonies from 26 witnesses and 180 supporting documents.
Charges Against Revanna
Revanna was charged under several stringent sections of the Indian Penal Code and the IT Act:
- IPC Sections:
- 376(2)(k): Rape by a person in a position of power
- 376(2)(n): Repeated rape on the same woman
- 354A: Sexual harassment
- 354B: Use of criminal force to disrobe
- 354C: Voyeurism
- 506: Criminal intimidation
- 201: Destruction of evidence
- IT Act Section 66E: Violation of privacy
Revanna’s Defense and Political Fallout
In his emotional plea, Revanna defended himself by suggesting political motives behind the allegations. He said, “My only mistake was growing fast in politics.”
His party membership remains suspended, and the case has further tainted the JD(S), already struggling with internal rifts and declining public support.