Prajwal Revanna Sentenced to Life Imprisonment in Rape Case: A Fall from Grace for Former Prime Minister’s Grandson
In a landmark verdict that has sent shockwaves across Karnataka and beyond, Prajwal Revanna, the former Member of Parliament (MP) from Hassan and grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, was sentenced to life imprisonment on August 2, 2025, by a Special Court for MPs/MLAs in Bengaluru. The court, presided over by Judge Santhosh Gajanana Bhat, convicted Revanna on August 1, 2025, in one of four rape and sexual assault cases filed against him, marking a dramatic fall for a once-promising political figure from a powerful political dynasty. The case, which involved the repeated rape and exploitation of a 47-year-old domestic worker, has sparked widespread outrage and highlighted issues of power, privilege, and accountability in Indian politics. This post delves into the details of the case, its implications, and the broader context surrounding this high-profile conviction.
Prajwal Revanna, a former Janata Dal (Secular) MP and the son of former Karnataka Minister H.D. Revanna, was once seen as the heir to the Gowda family's political legacy in Hassan, a district long dominated by the family. Elected as an MP in 2019, Revanna was groomed to carry forward the influence of his grandfather, H.D. Deve Gowda, and his uncle, former Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy. However, his political career came crashing down in 2024 when explicit videos allegedly showing him sexually assaulting multiple women surfaced in Hassan ahead of the Lok Sabha elections on April 26, 2024. The videos, circulated on pen drives, triggered a political and social storm, leading to his suspension from the Janata Dal (Secular) party and his eventual arrest.
The specific case that led to his conviction involved a 47-year-old woman who worked as a domestic help at the Revanna family’s farmhouse in Gannikada, Holenarasipura, Hassan district. The victim alleged that Revanna raped her twice in 2021—once at the family’s Hassan residence and again at their Bengaluru residence in Basavanagudi. The assaults were allegedly recorded on Revanna’s mobile phone, and the victim claimed she was blackmailed and threatened with the release of these videos if she spoke out. The case came to light after the victim filed a complaint, and the Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by Additional Director-General of Police B.K. Singh, conducted a thorough investigation, uncovering damning evidence, including forensic reports and digital trails.
The Trial and Conviction
The trial, conducted at a remarkable pace, concluded in just over a year since the First Information Report (FIR) was filed in 2024. The prosecution, led by Special Public Prosecutors B.N. Jagadish and Ashok Nayak, presented a robust case, supported by the victim’s testimony, forensic evidence, and digital records. The SIT filed a 1,632-page chargesheet in September 2024, detailing charges under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including:
Section 376(2)(k): Rape by a person in a position of control or dominance over a woman.
Section 376(2)(n): Repeated rape on the same woman.
Section 354A: Sexual harassment.
Section 354B: Assault with intent to disrobe.
Section 354C: Voyeurism (capturing images of a woman in a private act without consent).
Section 506: Criminal intimidation.
Section 201: Destruction of evidence.
Section 66E of the Information Technology Act: Violation of privacy.
The court reviewed 26 pieces of evidence, including the victim’s statement, semen samples found on the victim’s clothing, and the incriminating video evidence. The prosecution emphasized the severity of the crime, noting that Revanna, as an elected representative, abused his position of power to exploit a vulnerable woman earning a modest income of Rs 10,000 per month. The victim’s testimony revealed the emotional toll of the assaults, with reports indicating she contemplated suicide after the videos surfaced.
Revanna, who was arrested on May 31, 2024, upon his return to Bengaluru from Germany, pleaded for leniency during the trial. He claimed his rapid political ascent was his only “mistake” and alleged that the case was politically motivated, timed to coincide with the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, the court rejected these arguments, with Judge Bhat ruling that the evidence was “conclusive and damning.” On August 1, 2025, Revanna was convicted on all counts, and he broke down in court, visibly emotional as the verdict was announced. The following day, the court sentenced him to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh, with prosecutors arguing that the punishment would serve as a deterrent to society.
Additional Allegations and Related Cases
The rape case is just one of four criminal cases filed against Revanna in 2024, with three involving rape and one involving sexual harassment, stalking, and criminal intimidation. The other cases are still under investigation or trial, with the SIT continuing to probe allegations of coercion, blackmail, and repeated sexual assault against multiple victims. One particularly disturbing aspect of the case was the alleged involvement of Revanna’s parents, H.D. Revanna and Bhavani Revanna, who were accused of abducting the victim to prevent her from testifying. The victim was later rescued from a farmhouse in K.R. Nagar by the SIT. A separate chargesheet has been filed against Revanna’s parents for abduction, and their trial is pending.
The scandal erupted when thousands of explicit videos, allegedly recorded by Revanna, were circulated in Hassan, exposing the scale of his alleged crimes. The videos, which depicted non-consensual acts, caused widespread outrage and raised questions about the accountability of powerful political figures. The fact that the faces of the victims were not blurred in the circulated videos further compounded their trauma, leading to calls for stricter laws on the distribution of such content.
Political and Social Implications
Prajwal Revanna’s conviction has cast a long shadow over the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Gowda family’s political legacy. The party, already grappling with declining influence, has faced severe criticism for its association with Revanna, with opposition leaders, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing the BJP-JD(S) alliance of protecting a “mass rapist” for political gain. Reports indicate that the BJP was aware of the allegations against Revanna as early as December 2023 but chose to campaign for him during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, a decision that has drawn significant backlash.
The case has also sparked a broader conversation about the misuse of power and the vulnerability of women in domestic work. The victim, described as a poor, uneducated woman, was an “easy target” for Revanna, according to prosecutors, highlighting the systemic inequalities that enable such crimes. Legal experts have praised the court’s swift action, noting that the trial’s completion within two months aligns with Supreme Court guidelines for rape cases. The verdict is seen as a step toward justice for victims of sexual violence, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds.
Revanna’s Defense and Appeals
Revanna’s legal team, led by senior counsel Nayana Mayagowda, argued that the case was politically motivated and that the victim’s delayed complaint and lack of voluntary testimonies weakened the prosecution’s case. They also claimed that Revanna’s life had been “destroyed” by the allegations, while the victim had returned to a normal life with her family. However, these arguments failed to sway the court, which prioritized the victim’s testimony and the forensic evidence. Revanna’s multiple bail pleas were rejected by the Karnataka High Court and the Supreme Court, with justices citing his influence as a potential threat to the trial’s integrity.
Legal experts suggest that Revanna’s team is likely to appeal the life sentence in higher courts, but the strength of the evidence, including digital and forensic proof, may pose challenges to overturning the conviction. The case’s high-profile nature and the public outrage it has generated are expected to keep it in the spotlight as appeals progress.
The life imprisonment of Prajwal Revanna marks a significant moment in India’s fight against sexual violence, particularly when perpetrated by those in positions of power. The verdict sends a strong message that no one is above the law, regardless of their political lineage or influence. For the victim, a domestic worker who endured unimaginable trauma, the conviction represents a hard-fought victory, though it cannot erase the pain of her ordeal. As the nation watches the fallout of this case, it serves as a reminder of the need for systemic reforms to protect vulnerable women and ensure justice is delivered swiftly and fairly. The Gowda family, once a symbol of political dominance in Karnataka, now faces a tarnished legacy, while the focus shifts to whether other victims will come forward and if further accountability will follow in Revanna’s remaining cases.
Prajwal Revanna Sentenced to Life Imprisonment in Rape Case
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