A special court in Karnataka has sentenced Janata Dal Secular (JDS) leader and former MP Prajwal Revanna to life imprisonment in a serious rape case.
Bengaluru: In a rape case that caused a major upheaval in Karnataka's politics, former Janata Dal Secular (JDS) MP Prajwal Revanna, who was found guilty, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a special court. The verdict comes 14 months after the case was registered and stands as an example of the swift process of the judicial system in the country.
In which case was the sentence pronounced?
Prajwal Revanna was accused of raping a 48-year-old domestic help twice in 2021 at his family farmhouse (in Gannikada, Hassan district) and his house in Bengaluru. Special Court Judge Santosh Gajanan Bhatt pronounced the verdict on August 1, 2025, sentencing Revanna to life imprisonment.
According to the evidence presented in court, Revanna had recorded videos of the rape incidents on his mobile phone and threatened the victim that he would leak the videos on the internet if she told anyone.
Victim's Testimony Proved Decisive
The victim's testimony in the case was considered the most reliable and powerful evidence. Special Public Prosecutor Ashok Nayak stated that the prosecution recorded the statements of a total of 26 witnesses and presented 180 documents in court. Additionally, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) filed a 1,632-page charge sheet in September 2024, which included the statements of 113 witnesses.
Four cases related to rape have been registered against Revanna, including the one in which he has been sentenced to life imprisonment. This verdict comes at a time when a serious debate is going on about women's safety in Karnataka and across the country.
How and When Did This Case Come to Light?
The case came to light on April 26, 2024, when a pen-drive containing obscene videos related to Prajwal Revanna was allegedly leaked just before the elections in the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency. The video allegedly contained some objectionable clips, after which the victim came forward and filed a complaint. Prajwal Revanna was arrested at Bengaluru Airport on May 31, 2024, while returning from Germany.
The arrest was made on the basis of a case registered at Holenarasipura Town Police Station. After this, he was sent to judicial custody. Prajwal Revanna is the grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and the son of senior JDS leader HD Revanna.
