A Bengaluru special court has sentenced Prajwal Revanna, a former JD(S) Member of Parliament, to life for a rape and sexual abuse case. Judge K. N. Shivakumar presided over the court, which found Revanna guilty on several charges, such as rape, voyeurism, and criminal intimidation. In addition to the life term, the court also levied a fine of ₹10 lakh. The decision is the outcome of a high-profile court battle that had rocked the country.
Background of the Case
The Prajwal Revanna case surfaced ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, when a bunch of pen drives carrying obscene and pornographic videos, including him and various women, were circulated in the Hassan district of Karnataka. These videos generated universal outrage and led to the lodging of a number of cases against him. This specific case, in which the life sentence was handed out, was that of a 47-year-old domestic servant who was accused of repeated sexual assault and abuse on his part. The victim\’s testimony, backed by robust forensic evidence, proved crucial to the conviction.
Legal Proceedings and Conviction
At the release of the videos, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed by the government of Karnataka to probe into the charges. Prajwal Revanna fled to Germany, but was apprehended when he landed back in India on May 31, 2024. The prosecution by Special Public Prosecutor Jayna Kothari provided compelling evidence in the form of the victim\’s statement and expert testimony over the videos. The forensic report confirmed that the voice and body parts unveiled in the videos belonged to Prajwal Revanna, with little space for ambiguity. The court, during its final judgment, paid significant attention to the atrocities of the crime and the severe impact on the victims, leading to the stern sentence. Revanna\’s legal team has indicated that they will appeal.
