Bengaluru: In a landmark judgment, a special court in Bengaluru on Friday sentenced former JD(S) Member of Parliament Prajwal Revanna to life imprisonment in a rape case involving a 47-year-old domestic worker. Along with the sentence, the court imposed a fine of ₹10 lakh, marking a rare conviction of a high-profile political figure in a sexual assault case.
Prajwal Revanna, the grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and nephew of Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, was found guilty under Section 376(2)(n) of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with repeated rape by a person in a position of authority.
The verdict came a day after the court convicted him in one of several cases registered against him following the leak of explicit videos in April 2024. The case pertains to the rape of a domestic worker at his residence in Hassan. The court, while pronouncing the sentence, observed that the evidence presented — including video clips, forensic reports, and victim testimonies — clearly established the guilt of the accused.
During the sentencing, Revanna reportedly broke down in the courtroom, saying, “My only mistake was growing too fast in politics.” His plea for leniency, citing political vendetta and his age, was dismissed by the court in light of strong corroborative evidence.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the Karnataka government, conducted a thorough investigation and presented a watertight case against the accused. The SIT examined over 26 witnesses and submitted multiple pieces of digital and forensic evidence during the trial.
Revanna, who had initially fled the country following the controversy, was arrested upon his return in May 2024 and remained in judicial custody throughout the trial. He is currently lodged in Parappana Agrahara Central Prison.
This is the first conviction among multiple cases filed against Revanna after several women came forward with allegations of sexual abuse. The judgment is being viewed as a significant moment for women’s justice and political accountability in India.
The court directed that the ₹10 lakh fine be paid as compensation to the survivor. The defence is expected to file an appeal in the High Court, but legal experts believe the strength of the evidence will make overturning the verdict difficult.
This case has also sparked widespread political debate in Karnataka, with opposition parties demanding accountability from JD(S) leadership and urging stronger internal screening of candidates.
