Former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna was sentenced to imprisonment for the remainder of his life by a Special Court here on Saturday, a day after he was convicted in one of the four sexual abuse and rape cases against him.
Ahead of the sentencing, the 34-year-old grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda wept soundly and appealed to the court for a lesser punishment, stating that he is a BE Mechanical graduate who has always passed on merit and has not committed any wrongdoing. The Special Court for MPs/MLAs Judge Santosh Gajanan Bhat also imposed a total fine of `11.50 lakh on the accused and said `11.25 lakh from this fine amount will be paid to the victim.
The court had on Friday convicted Revanna of raping a 48-year-old woman who was working as a house help at the family’s Gannikada farmhouse in Hassan district’s Holenarasipura. She was allegedly raped twice at Hassan farm house and Bengaluru residence — in 2021 and the act was recorded by the accused on his mobile phone.
Special public prosecutor Ashok Nayak speaking to reporters said, considering that the rape incidents had happened when the convict was a Member of Parliament, the court, taking into account the seriousness of the offence, has given a maximum punishment.
“The court has sentenced life imprisonment for Prajwal Revanna and as per law; he should be in prison for the full life. The prosecution had invoked various sections and for all sections, the court has sentenced separate punishments and fines. On the whole, the fine amount is Rs 11,50,000, and a major share of it, Rs 11,25,000, should be given to the victim as per the court order,” he said.
Additional SPP BN Jagadeesha said, the accused is liable to remain in prison under Section 376(2)(n) for the remaining period of his life. “Our argument was about rape and atrocity by a powerful man on an innocent woman and the social stigma,” he said, adding that Prajwal Revanna has the right to appeal and he can challenge the court order.”
Earlier in the day, while the prosecution sought a life sentence for Revanna, the former MP sought leniency, claiming he did nothing wrong and that his only mistake was his ‘fast’ growth in politics. He broke down in court as he appealed to the judge for a lesser punishment. He told the court that he is a BE Mechanical graduate and has always passed on merit.
“...They say that I have raped multiple women, but none of the women have come out voluntarily to complain, they came six days before the election (Lok Sabha polls last year)...The prosecution side brought them purposefully and made them give a complaint,” Prajwal told the court.
Pointing out that the woman (victim) had not complained to anyone, including her husband or kin, about the alleged rape, he said that she came and gave a complaint when certain videos were circulated.
Stating that he will bow down to the court’s conviction, Prajwal said, “I have a family, I have not seen my mother and father for six months now... Please give me a lesser sentence is what I request the court.”
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which probed the case, had filed a 1,632-page charge sheet with 113 witnesses in the case in September 2024.
Revanna was booked under Sections 376(2)(k) (being in a position of control or dominance over a woman, commits rape on such woman), 376 (2)(n) (repeated rape on the same woman), 354A (sexual harassment), 354B (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 354C (voyeurism), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 201 (disappearance of evidence) of the IPC, and Section 66E (violation of privacy) of the IT Act.
Revanna was arrested by the SIT on May 31 last year, upon his arrival at Bengaluru Airport from Germany in connection with a case registered at the Holenarasipura Town Police Station. He was escorted to the SIT office only by women officers upon his arrest at the airport.
Revanna had failed in his bid to retain the Hassan parliamentary constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. JD(S) suspended him from the party following the cases filed against him.