Bengaluru Court Convicts Former MP Prajwal Revanna in Rape Case

Conviction of Prajwal Revanna

A special court in Bengaluru has found former Karnataka MP Prajwal Revanna guilty in a rape case involving a 48-year-old employee at the Revanna family's farmhouse, as reported by a local news outlet.

Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat determined that Revanna was guilty of raping the victim and recording the incident. The court is expected to announce the sentencing on Saturday, according to another news source.

Revanna was taken into custody on May 31, 2024, upon his return to Bengaluru from Germany, where he had fled on April 26, 2024. He was suspended from the Janata Dal (Secular) party on April 30, 2024, following the emergence of allegations against him.

These allegations included the surfacing of videos purportedly showing sexual assaults against multiple women, allegedly recorded by Revanna himself, just prior to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He is currently facing charges in four separate cases.

Three women have accused Revanna of sexual assault, while the fourth case involves allegations of sexual harassment, stalking, and criminal intimidation under the Indian Penal Code.

After fleeing to Germany, both he and his father, former state minister HD Revanna, were charged by Karnataka Police with sexual harassment and criminal intimidation.

The charges against Revanna in this conviction include sections of the Indian Penal Code related to his position of authority over the victim and committing repeated acts of rape. He also faces charges under the Information Technology Act.

The trial commenced on May 2, with the complainant's statements being recorded. A Special Investigation Team from the Karnataka Police had submitted the charges on April 2.