Former MP Prajwal Revanna gets life sentence for sexually assaulting domestic help

Former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna was sentenced to imprisonment for the remainder of his life by a Special Court here on Saturday, a day after he was convicted in one of the four sexual abuse and rape cases against him.

The court awarded punishment and imposed fines on the 34-year-old under different Sections of the IPC and IT Act.

The ruling Congress used the verdict to take a swipe at rivals—the BJP and its ally JD(S)—to question their ‘silence’ on the matter, even as the saffron party called for respecting the court order.

Ahead of the sentencing, the 34-year-old grandson of former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda wept loudly and appealed to the court for a lesser punishment, stating he is a BE Mechanical graduate who has always passed on merit and not committed any wrongdoing.

Special Court for MPs/MLAs Judge Santosh Gajanan Bhat imposed a total fine of Rs 11.50 lakh on the accused, directing that Rs 11.25 lakh from this be paid to the victim, a domestic help of the family of the accused.

The court had on Friday convicted Revanna of raping the 48-year-old woman who was working at the family’s Gannikada farmhouse in Hassan district’s Holenarasipura. She was allegedly raped twice—at Hassan farm house and Bengaluru residence—in 2021, and the act was recorded by the accused on his mobile phone.

Speaking to reporters, special public prosecutor Ashok Nayak said that considering the rape incidents had happened when the convict was a Member of Parliament, the court, taking into account the seriousness of the offence, has given maximum punishment. “The court has sentenced Prajwal Revanna to life imprisonment, and as per law, he should be in prison for the full life. The prosecution had invoked various Sections, and for all Sections, the court has sentenced separate punishments and fines. On the whole, the fine amount is Rs 11,50,000, and a major share of it, Rs 11,25,000, should be given to the victim as per the court order,” he said.

Additional SPP B N Jagadeesha said, the accused is liable to remain in prison under Section 376(2)(n) for the remaining period of his life.

Earlier in the day, while the prosecution sought a life sentence for Revanna, the former MP sought leniency, claiming he did nothing wrong and that his only mistake was his ‘fast’ growth in politics.

He broke down in court as he appealed to the judge for a lesser punishment.

“...they say that I have raped multiple women, but none of the women have come out voluntarily to complain, they came six days before the election (Lok Sabha polls last year)...the prosecution side brought them purposefully and made them give a complaint,” Prajwal told the court.

Pointing out that the woman (victim) had not complained to anyone, including her husband or kin, about the alleged rape, he said that she came and gave a complaint when certain videos were circulated.

Stating that he will bow down to the court’s conviction, Prajwal said, “I have a family, I have not seen my mother and father for six months now... please give me a lesser sentence is what I request the court.” “The only mistake I made in my life is growing fast in politics,” Prajwal, arrested in May last year upon his arrival from Germany, told the court.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which probed the case, had filed a 1,632-page charge-sheet with 113 witnesses in the case in September 2024.

Revanna was booked under Sections 376(2)(k) (being in a position of control or dominance over a woman, commits rape on such woman), 376 (2)(n) (repeated rape on the same woman), 354A (sexual harassment), 354B (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 354C (voyeurism), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 201 (disappearance of evidence) of the IPC, and Section 66E (violation of privacy) of the IT Act.

Prosecution advocates Nayak and Jagadeesha, following Prajwal Revanna’s conviction on Friday, said that the court had accepted the prosecution’s case and convicted him on all counts.

Responding to the court order, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar questioned the silence of leaders from JD(S) and its alliance partner BJP.

Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, the state Congress chief said that JD(S) leaders and their alliance partner BJP are competent to comment on the Prajwal Revanna issue, and questioned as to why they are not speaking.

BJP leader and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said the court would have given the verdict considering all aspects, and it should be respected.

Four separate cases have been registered against Revanna, who is facing charges of rape and sexual harassment, and the SIT was tasked with probing the cases.

The cases came to light after pen-drives containing explicit videos allegedly involving Revanna were reportedly circulated in Hassan, ahead of Lok Sabha polls there on April 26, 2024.