JD(S) MLA HD Revanna gets interim bail in sexual harassment case

A Bengaluru court granted interim bail to Janata Dal (Secular) MLA and former Karnataka Minister HD Revanna in a sexual harassment case.

Revanna was released on bond until Friday, not long after her conditional release in a related kidnapping case involving a ‘obscene video’ incident. The same day, he submitted an application for bail in the sexual harassment lawsuit.

The main bail plea hearing is set for Friday at 3 PM by the 42nd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court (ACMM), despite granted interim bail.

Revanna’s bail request was rejected by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), with SP Jayna Kothari arguing in favour of his judicial custody. In response, Arun, Revanna’s lawyer, said, “This is a bailable case.”

As a formal reaction to the FIR accusing him of sexual harassment, Revanna requested bail. Noting that there were charges of rape in the FIRs, the SIT filed objections. The defence team for HD Revanna countered that Prajwal was the target of these accusations, not HD Revanna.

Revanna was put back under arrest by the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP), who said he was not assisting with the inquiry. If Revanna was not complying, the judge questioned the SPP’s plea for custody.

The defense insisted that Revanna faced bailable sections and that the SPP’s arguments regarding Section 376 were not applicable.

An SIT established by the Karnataka government is looking into claims of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation against HD Revanna and his son Prajwal Revanna. This comes after a complaint was made by a woman who worked at their home.

A special court for people’s representatives had granted Revanna conditional bail, and on May 14, he was released from Parappana Agrahara Jail. On May 4, he was taken into custody by SIT personnel in relation to an abduction case that had been reported to the Bengaluru police station, KR Nagar. He was given conditional bail by the judge along with a Rs 5 lakh bond.