Bengaluru: The Special Court for MPs/MLAs in Bengaluru on Saturday sentenced expelled JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna—grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda—to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹5 lakh on him in connection with the obscene video and rape case.
The verdict was delivered by Judge Santhosh Gajanana Bhat, who pronounced the quantum of punishment under IPC Section 376(2)(k) (rape by a person in a position of authority) and Section 376(2)(n) (repeated rape).
Before announcing the sentence, the court recorded Revanna’s final statement. Visibly emotional, he broke down in court and said, “Why did this case come out during the elections? When I was an MP, no complaints were lodged against me. Why didn’t anyone come forward then? Why did the case surface only during the election?”
He alleged political conspiracy behind the charges: “The police have done this. This is politically motivated. I will accept the decision of the court. I haven’t seen my parents for six months,” he said tearfully. When asked about his education, he said he studied mechanical engineering and was a meritorious student. “My only fault is that I rose too quickly in politics. I won’t blame the media,” he added.
The prosecution, represented by Special Public Prosecutors B.N. Jagadish and Ashok Nayak, strongly pressed for the maximum sentence. Jagadish said the victim was raped repeatedly, worked for only ₹10,000 a month, and was forced to flee without clothes after the assault. “She was blackmailed and raped. The video shows Prajwal Revanna’s sadistic mindset. He has made videos of many women. He is a habitual offender,” he submitted.
The prosecution argued that Revanna showed no remorse and that leniency for someone with political power would set a dangerous precedent. “There is a general notion that the mighty get minimum punishment while the common man suffers maximum punishment. This court must break that perception.”
Jagadish further stated that the repeated sexual assault deeply affected not only the victim’s body but also her mind. The victim attempted suicide after viewing the video. “The destruction of evidence is a serious offence. The victim was kidnapped, and there was an attempt to tamper with her statement,” he said.
Ashok Nayak, also representing the victim, argued that as a Member of Parliament, Revanna abused his power. “Why did people elect him? What did he do? He should be given the maximum punishment and maximum fine. He is not poor; he is a crorepathi. A large portion of the fine should be given to the victim.”
In defence, senior counsel Nayana Mayagowda, appearing for Prajwal Revanna, submitted that the case was politically motivated. “Why did the video go viral during the 2024 elections? He has served the people and hasn’t come to politics to make money,” she said. She urged the court not to be swayed by his political status and added that the victim was not socially ostracised, living with her husband and children. “It is Prajwal’s life that has been destroyed. He has already been in jail for 1.4 years.”
Special Public Prosecutor Jagadish objected to her characterisation of the victim’s suffering. Mayagowda maintained that Prajwal had suffered greater personal losses.
The case stemmed from a rape complaint filed by a domestic worker from K.R. Nagar on May 3, 2024. The court examined 26 witnesses and reviewed 180 documents during the trial. Prajwal Revanna faces three other similar cases.
Videos allegedly showing Prajwal sexually assaulting women and recording the acts surfaced during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Following the release of these videos, Prajwal fled India. A complaint by a victim from Holenarasipura led to further legal action.
After 35 days in hiding, Prajwal returned from Frankfurt on May 31 and was arrested upon arrival at Bengaluru airport. His return came after public appeals from his grandfather H.D. Deve Gowda and Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy. He has since been held in Bengaluru Central Jail and has had multiple bail pleas rejected.
One video, widely circulated during the election, allegedly shows the sexual assault of an elderly domestic worker at a Holenarasipura farmhouse. In the video, she is seen pleading for mercy, citing her service to Prajwal’s family.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) filed multiple charges including repeated rape (IPC 376(2)(n)), criminal intimidation (IPC 506), sexual harassment (IPC 354A(1)), use of force with intent to disrobe (IPC 354B), voyeurism (IPC 354C), and relevant sections of the Information Technology Act.
Police sources said they had collected strong evidence, including victim statements, semen samples from clothing, and the video itself.
