Why Was Prajwal Revanna Sentenced to Life Imprisonment?

Bengaluru, Aug 2 (NationPress) In a significant ruling, the Special Court for MPs/MLAs in Bengaluru has sentenced Prajwal Revanna to life imprisonment until death and levied a fine of Rs 10 lakh on Saturday related to a case involving an obscene video and the assault of a 47-year-old woman.

Prajwal Revanna, who is the grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, faced the court as Judge Santosh Gajanana Bhat delivered the verdict. Revanna was convicted under IPC Section 376 (2) (N) for committing repeated rape, resulting in a Rs 5 lakh fine. He was also sentenced to life imprisonment and another Rs 5 lakh fine under IPC Section 376 (2) (k) for exploiting his position of authority to commit rape.

The court ordered that Rs 7 lakh from the total fine be allocated to the victim.

Prajwal Revanna stood before the court with his hands joined when his punishment was announced.

After declaring him guilty, the court recorded the final statements from both the convict and the Special Public Prosecutors earlier that day.

Revanna was convicted under multiple IPC sections, including 376 (2) (N) for repeatedly assaulting the same woman, 376 (2) (K) for exploiting his position as a public servant, 354 (B) for using force with the intent to disrobe, 354 (C) for voyeurism, and IT Act 66 (E) for privacy violations.

He is also facing three additional cases of a similar nature.

During the final statements regarding sentencing, the Special Public Prosecutors urged for the maximum penalty of life imprisonment, emphasizing that such a sentence would send a strong message to society and deter others from committing similar offenses.

Revanna became emotional and expressed his despair before the court while making his concluding statements.

He questioned, "Why did this case emerge during the elections? When I was an MP, no complaints were made against me. Now they claim I committed multiple sexual assaults. Why was there no one to speak up back then?"

He further alleged, "This is politically motivated; the police are involved. I will accept the court's decision, but I haven't seen my parents in six months."

When asked by Judge Santosh Bhat about his educational background, Prajwal stated that he studied Mechanical Engineering and described himself as a meritorious student. "My only mistake was rising too quickly in politics. I won’t blame the media," he added.

The Special Court had previously declared Revanna guilty in this case concerning an obscene video and rape.

This case arose from a complaint filed by a domestic worker from K.R. Nagar. The court examined 26 pieces of evidence related to the case. Prajwal Revanna is also facing three other similar allegations.

Videos allegedly depicting Revanna's sexual assaults surfaced during the Lok Sabha elections. Following the elections, he fled the country.

Upon returning to Bengaluru on May 31, 2024, he was apprehended by local police.

His return was prompted by appeals from former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and his uncle, Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy. He has spent 14 months in Bengaluru Central Jail, with all bail requests having been denied.

The video that sparked outrage reportedly shows the assault on the victim, an elderly domestic worker at a farmhouse in Holenarasipura. In the footage, the victim is seen pleading with Prajwal, stating her long service to his family.