In a landmark ruling delivered just 14 months after the initial complaint was lodged, former JD(S) Member of Parliament Prajwal Revanna, who is also the grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, was sentenced to life imprisonment. He was found guilty of raping a 47-year-old domestic worker in Mysuru and recording the act on video. In addition to the life sentence, the court imposed a fine of ₹11 lakh, which is to be handed over as compensation to the survivor. The unusually swift pace at which the judicial proceedings unfolded has been noted, with the case reaching its verdict in little over a year since registration.
The case was filed at the Cyber Crime Station under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and it accused Revanna of sexually assaulting the victim on two separate occasions, during which he allegedly recorded videos of the incidents. These explicit videos surfaced publicly just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, causing widespread outrage. Revanna, who was then the BJP candidate from the Hassan constituency, responded to the controversy by asserting that the footage was manipulated and filed a formal complaint alleging that the videos were doctored.
The trial commenced on December 31, 2024, and proceeded at a steady pace over the next seven months. During this time, the court heard testimonies from 23 witnesses. It also reviewed essential pieces of evidence, which included video clips analyzed by forensic science laboratories and inspection reports from the crime scene. Among the most significant pieces of physical evidence submitted by the survivor was a saree she had carefully preserved. Forensic testing confirmed the presence of sperm on the garment, and this evidence played a pivotal role in securing the conviction.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the CID, led by Inspector Shobha, was responsible for handling the case. The team gathered a total of 123 items of evidence throughout the investigation. Their final report, presented as a chargesheet, extended across nearly 2,000 pages and encapsulated detailed findings from their probe.
Prajwal Revanna was convicted under multiple provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 376(2)(k) and Section 376(2)(n), which pertain to aggravated forms of rape. He was also found guilty under Sections 354(A), 354(B), and 354(C), which address various forms of sexual harassment and assault against women.
