Karnataka High Court Denies Bail to Former MP Prajwal Revanna Amid Serious Allegations

The Karnataka High Court has refused to grant bail to former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, who is serving a life sentence for rape. The court cited the severity of the charges and the risk of witness tampering as key reasons for its decision. Revanna's defense argued that the conviction was based on weak evidence and claimed political motives behind the allegations. The case involves multiple charges against Revanna, including serious offenses against a vulnerable worker during the pandemic. The final hearing for his appeal is scheduled for January 12, 2026. Read on for more details about this high-profile legal battle.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 4, 2025, 11:06 IST

Court Upholds Life Sentence for Prajwal Revanna

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has declined to suspend the life sentence handed down to former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, who is implicated in one of four rape cases against him.

A division bench consisting of Justice K S Mudagal and Justice Venkatesh Naik determined that the severity of the charges, the existence of multiple pending cases, and the potential for witness tampering made this an unsuitable case for bail.

The judges highlighted that Revanna was denied bail during the trial phase, and the victim had postponed reporting the incident due to his influential status.

Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra, representing Revanna, contended that the conviction was based on insufficient evidence and influenced by a 'media trial.'

He raised concerns about the reliability of electronic evidence, noted delays in filing the FIR, and pointed out procedural errors in forensic investigations, arguing that the defense was not adequately allowed to present its case for a reduced sentence. He also suggested that political motives were behind the allegations.

In opposition, Special Public Prosecutor Professor Ravivarma Kumar argued that granting bail to Revanna would jeopardize the safety of the victim and witnesses, referencing previous attempts at abduction.

Kumar emphasized the gravity of the repeated sexual offenses against a vulnerable household worker during the lockdown and Revanna's alleged lack of cooperation, including his failure to surrender his phone, which weighed heavily against bail.

The prosecution informed the court that the case was progressing rapidly and could be heard quickly, in accordance with Supreme Court directives prioritizing cases involving MPs and MLAs.

Kumar stressed that following a conviction, the legal principle shifts to 'jail is the rule, not bail,' asserting that the victim's testimony alone was sufficient to uphold the conviction.

The bench noted that the defense's arguments primarily focused on the merits of the appeal, stating that any alleged evidentiary gaps should be addressed during the final hearing. They clarified that the High Court would not reevaluate each piece of evidence at this stage and found no prima facie illegality in the trial court's ruling.

After rejecting the bail application, the High Court has set January 12, 2026, for the final hearing of Revanna's appeal.

The case involves a 48-year-old woman employed at Revanna's family's Gannikada farmhouse in Holenarasipura, Hassan district, who was reportedly raped twice in 2021 at both the farmhouse and Revanna's Bengaluru residence, with the incidents recorded on his mobile phone.

The trial court based its conviction on various pieces of evidence, including video recordings, DNA analysis of hair strands, and biological traces found on the victim's clothing.

Revanna faces charges of rape and sexual harassment in four separate cases, with the SIT assigned to investigate these matters.

These cases gained attention after pen drives containing explicit videos allegedly featuring Revanna were circulated in Hassan ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on April 26, 2024.