Bengaluru — In a significant development, a Bengaluru trial court on Friday convicted former Member of Parliament and suspended Janata Dal (Secular) leader Prajwal Revanna on multiple charges of rape and sexual assault. The verdict was delivered by Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat, with sentencing scheduled to be announced on Saturday.
Revanna, the grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, was found guilty of repeatedly raping a domestic worker employed at his family's farmhouse, and recording videos of the assaults. The conviction follows a high-profile trial that included charges under several provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology Act, 2008.
Background of the Case
The case stems from allegations made by a maid employed at the Revanna family farmhouse. According to her testimony, the first instance of rape occurred in 2021, during the COVID-19 lockdown. She alleged that Revanna not only sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions but also recorded the acts and used the footage to intimidate her into silence.
She remained quiet until a series of leaked videos—reportedly more than 2,900, allegedly involving multiple women—surfaced online and on social media platforms. These leaks prompted her to file a formal complaint, leading to four separate cases being registered against the former MP.
Legal Proceedings and Charges
In April 2024, the court formally framed charges against Revanna. These included:
- Rape by a person in a position of dominance or control
- Repeated rape
- Outraging the modesty of a woman
- Criminal force with intent to disrobe
- Voyeurism
- Criminal intimidation
- Destruction of evidence
He was also charged under Section 66E of the IT Act, which deals with the violation of privacy and the dissemination of private content without consent.
Despite the gravity of the allegations, Revanna maintained that the accusations were politically motivated and aimed at tarnishing his public image. He questioned the timing of the complaint and insisted that the evidence against him was insufficient.
Following the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka—amid mounting criticism—Revanna fled to Germany, only to be arrested upon his return to India on May 31, 2024. He has remained in judicial custody since then.
Court Findings and SIT Investigation
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which took over the probe, filed its chargesheet in August 2024, submitting four volumes of evidence. According to sources cited by Bar and Bench, forensic analysis confirmed the authenticity of the videos in question.
Revanna had filed a discharge application, seeking to have the charges dismissed. However, on April 3, 2025, the court rejected his plea, ruling that sufficient prima facie material existed to proceed with a full trial.
The conviction marks a turning point in one of Karnataka’s most controversial criminal cases involving a public figure. The quantum of punishment will be pronounced in court tomorrow.
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