Prajwal Revanna found guilty in sexual assault case involving domestic worker
A special court in Bengaluru has convicted former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna in a rape case filed by a domestic worker employed at his family’s farmhouse. The woman accused Revanna, grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, of repeatedly raping her since 2021. She also stated that he threatened to release explicit videos if she revealed the abuse.
The court concluded the trial on July 18 and deferred its judgment to July 30 for clarifications. It delivered the verdict on Friday and will announce the sentence on Saturday. Revanna also faces three other criminal cases related to over 2,000 obscene videos that surfaced online last year. Authorities arrested him on May 31, 2024. He later lost the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Karnataka’s Hassan seat and was suspended by the JD(S).
The Special Court for MPs and MLAs in Bengaluru examined 26 witnesses during the trial. It also recorded Revanna’s statement. The court framed charges under multiple sections, including rape, voyeurism, criminal intimidation, and unlawful circulation of intimate images. After hearing arguments, the court delivered its verdict on August 1.
The woman approached the police in April last year. She reported that Revanna began sexually assaulting her in 2021. He allegedly recorded the abuse and used the videos to silence her and her detailed statement and supporting evidence led to the case’s registration and trial.
Revanna remains the prime accused in three other criminal cases, these cases stem from the discovery of over 2,000 obscene video clips on social media. The clips allegedly show him abusing multiple women and the shocking visuals triggered widespread outrage and legal action. Following the scandal, the JD(S) suspended Revanna and distanced itself from his actions.
