Bengaluru, August 1, 2025
Disgraced former JDS MP Prajwal Revanna has been found guilty in one of the four sexual assault and rape cases filed against him. The Special Court for People’s Representatives in Bengaluru delivered the verdict on Friday, 14 months after the first complaint was filed. The court will announce the quantum of sentence on Saturday.
Revanna, who had been suspended from the Janata Dal (Secular) party, reportedly broke down and wept uncontrollably in the courtroom after the verdict was read.
The Case: Domestic Worker Alleges Rape
The conviction pertains to a case filed by a 48-year-old domestic worker from KR Nagar in Mysuru. The woman had worked at the Gannikada farmhouse in Holenarasipura, Hassan district, which belongs to the Revanna family.
She alleged that Revanna raped her twice in 2021 and recorded the assault on his mobile phone. Her complaint became the basis for the trial that resulted in Friday’s conviction.
One of Four Cases
Revanna, the grandson of former Prime Minister and JDS patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda, is facing a total of four separate cases related to rape and sexual abuse. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to probe the allegations after multiple complaints emerged.
How the Scandal Unfolded
The controversy erupted in April 2024, just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, when pen drives containing explicit videos allegedly involving Revanna were circulated in Hassan district. The footage sparked a political storm and brought the accusations into the public spotlight.
Arrested After Return from Germany
Prajwal Revanna had traveled abroad following the emergence of the scandal. He was arrested on May 31, 2024, upon arriving at the Bengaluru International Airport from Germany. He was immediately taken into custody by the SIT based on one of the FIRs lodged at the Holenarasipura Town Police Station.
Political Fallout and Electoral Defeat
In the wake of the allegations, the JDS suspended Prajwal Revanna, distancing the party from the controversy. He subsequently lost the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Hassan, a constituency previously considered a family stronghold.
Awaiting Sentencing
The Special Court, presided over by Judge Santosh Gajanan Bhat, will announce the sentence on Saturday (August 3). Revanna could face a lengthy prison term under Indian laws governing sexual assault and exploitation.
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