Former Member of Parliament Prajwal Revanna has been sentenced to life in prison for raping a domestic worker, with the court saying he must remain behind bars for the rest of his life. The verdict was given by a special court in Bengaluru that handles criminal cases against politicians.
Prajwal Revanna, who was elected from Hassan in Karnataka, is the grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda. He was found guilty of raping a 48-year-old woman twice in 2021 at his family’s farm. The court also said he filmed the assaults and later leaked the videos online. The judge convicted him under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including for repeated rape and for abusing his position of power.
Judge Santosh Gajanan Bhat, who announced the sentence, said, “This is a case of repeated sexual violence by a person in power. The evidence clearly proves the charges.” Prajwal was also fined ₹11.60 lakh, out of which ₹11.25 lakh is to be given to the survivor.
After the verdict, Prajwal broke down in court and claimed that he was the victim of a political conspiracy. “I am innocent. This is all part of a political plan to destroy me,” he said.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which looked into the case, praised the survivor for standing up against a powerful politician. “She comes from a poor background, yet she showed great courage. Her fight is truly inspiring,” said B.K. Singh, the officer in charge of the SIT.
Special Public Prosecutor Asok Nayak said the case was completed quickly and fairly. “The fact that the trial ended in just over a year shows the strength of the justice system. No one is above the law,” he said.
The survivor, who has remained anonymous, told her lawyer that she felt relieved and supported by the court’s decision. “She feels that her pain has been heard. This judgment has given her a sense of justice,” said her lawyer.
This is the first of four cases filed against Prajwal Revanna to reach a verdict. The other three cases are still under trial. Prajwal had been suspended from his party, Janata Dal (Secular), after videos of him with multiple women surfaced in April 2024, just before the Lok Sabha elections.
