Three officers of the Karnataka Special Investigation Team (SIT), Criminal Investigation Department (CID), who built the case that secured the conviction of former Janata Dal (Secular) MP Prajwal Revanna on rape charges, have been awarded the Union Home Ministry Medal for Excellence in Investigation, the Chief Minister's Office announced on Saturday, 31 October. The recognition marks a rare federal-level honour for a state-level investigative team.

The Officers Honoured

The three recipients are Inspector Shobha, Assistant Sub-Inspector Rathnamma, and CHC Balakrishna, all members of the SIT-CID team that investigated the sexual assault cases against Revanna. The Union Home Ministry Medal for Excellence in Investigation is awarded to officers who demonstrate outstanding professional conduct in criminal investigation and contribute meaningfully to securing justice.

The Chief Minister's Office formally congratulated the three officers for their achievement and their sustained role throughout a complex, multi-stage probe.

A Landmark Conviction

Prajwal Revanna, the grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, was found guilty on 1 August 2025 by the Special Court for MPs/MLAs in Bengaluru, presided over by Judge Santosh Gajanan Bhat. On 2 August 2025, he was sentenced to life imprisonment — one of the most consequential verdicts in recent Karnataka judicial history.

The case centred on the sexual assault and repeated rape of a 47-year-old domestic worker at the Revanna family's farmhouse and residence in 2021, along with the recording and circulation of explicit video material. Revanna was convicted under Sections 376(2)(k) and 376(2)(n) of the Indian Penal Code, with concurrent rigorous imprisonment terms for sexual harassment (IPC 354A), assault with intent to disrobe (IPC 354B), voyeurism (IPC 354C), criminal intimidation (IPC 506), destruction of evidence (IPC 201), and violations of Section 66E of the Information Technology Act. The court imposed a total fine exceeding ₹11.50 lakh, with approximately ₹11.25 lakh directed as compensation to the survivor.

Investigative Challenges the SIT Overcame

The probe was technically and logistically demanding. A significant portion of the recovered video recordings did not clearly show the accused's face, requiring investigators to match unique physical markers — including birthmarks, moles, and body tattoos — through medical examination photographs and forensic comparison techniques.

The SIT also had to process hundreds of explicit videos and thousands of digital screenshots, organising them into individual victim folders and mapping overlapping crime scenes across multiple locations including farmhouses and private residences. Survivors and witnesses reportedly faced threats of violence and intimidation throughout the proceedings, necessitating direct court interventions to arrange police protection.

Notably, the investigation required international coordination after Revanna fled to Germany shortly before the scandal broke in late April 2024. He was arrested at Bengaluru Airport upon his return on 31 May 2024. Security concerns persisted even after his incarceration — unauthorised electronic devices, including a mobile phone and a pen drive, were reportedly recovered inside his high-security prison cell.

Legal Proceedings Continue

Revanna has challenged both his conviction and life sentence before the Karnataka High Court, contesting the survivor's testimony and the forensic and video evidence presented at trial. In December 2025, a division bench of the High Court rejected his plea to suspend the sentence and grant bail, citing the gravity of the offences and the pendency of additional cases. Revanna faces further separate allegations of sexual abuse and assault, keeping the legal proceedings ongoing.

The Home Ministry's recognition of the SIT team signals institutional acknowledgment of the investigative rigour that underpinned one of India's most high-profile political criminal cases in recent years.