LI Network
Published on: 02 August, 2025 23:10 IST
Bengaluru special court has sentenced former Janata Dal (Secular) MP Prajwal Revanna to life imprisonment for the rape of his domestic worker and the unlawful circulation of sexually explicit videos. Revanna, 34, is the grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and nephew of Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy.
The survivor, a 48-year-old woman employed as domestic help at the Revanna family farmhouse in Holenarasipura, Hassan district, had alleged that she was repeatedly raped by Revanna since 2021. He had reportedly recorded the assaults and used the videos to blackmail and threaten her into silence.
The special court for MPs and MLAs, presided over by Judge Santosh Gajanan Bhat, convicted Revanna on Friday under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including rape, voyeurism, criminal intimidation, and circulation of intimate content without consent, along with relevant sections of the Information Technology Act. The sentence was pronounced on Saturday.
Special Public Prosecutor BN Jagadish, representing the survivor, argued that Revanna had shown a sadistic mindset and was a habitual offender who had filmed multiple women without consent. “This case reflects the misuse of power and privilege. The law must send a strong message that political influence and wealth cannot shield offenders from justice,” the prosecutor told the court.
In his final statement before sentencing, Revanna broke down and questioned the timing of the allegations. “Why did this case come out during the elections? No complaints were ever filed when I was an MP,” he claimed.
The court awarded life imprisonment under two IPC sections, additional prison terms ranging from two to seven years under five other sections, and three years under the IT Act. The court also directed that the survivor be paid a compensation of ₹11 lakh.
Background: The Scandal
The scandal broke on April 26, 2024, shortly after polling concluded in the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, from where Revanna was contesting. Several explicit videos surfaced online, allegedly showing Revanna sexually abusing multiple women.
Following the outrage, Revanna fled to Germany and was subsequently suspended from JD(S), which was in alliance with the BJP during the Lok Sabha elections. He returned to India and was arrested in May 2024.
The case has triggered nationwide debate about the accountability of public figures and the need for stronger safeguards for victims of sexual violence.