Former MP Prajwal Revanna Convicted in Sexual Abuse and Rape Case

A special court in Bengaluru on Friday convicted former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna in a sexual abuse and rape case—the first of several filed against him. The case was originally registered at the Holenarasipura Rural Police Station in Karnataka's Hassan district, according to news agency PTI.

The Special Court for People’s Representatives had concluded the trial on July 18 and reserved its verdict. The court is expected to announce the sentence on Saturday, August 2.

This particular case involves a 48-year-old woman who worked as domestic help at the Revanna family’s farmhouse in Gannikada, Holenarasipura. She accused Revanna of raping her twice in 2021 and claimed the assaults were recorded on his phone.

Revanna, the grandson of former Prime Minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Deve Gowda, faces four separate cases related to rape and sexual harassment. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to investigate the allegations.

The allegations surfaced publicly just before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when pen drives containing explicit videos allegedly featuring Revanna were circulated in Hassan. He was arrested by the SIT on May 31, 2024, after landing in Bengaluru from Germany, in connection with a separate case filed at the Holenarasipura Town Police Station.

Revanna also lost his re-election bid for the Hassan parliamentary seat in the 2024 polls. Following the wave of allegations, JD(S) suspended him from the party.