Convicted former MP Prajwal Revanna will participate in the funeral of his grandmother, Chennamma — wife of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda — through video conference from Bengaluru Central Prison, after opting not to seek parole, prison officials confirmed on 20 July.

Death of a Family Matriarch

Chennamma, widely regarded as the matriarch of the Deve Gowda family, passed away following a cardiac arrest at a private hospital in Bengaluru on Saturday, 18 July. She had been admitted to Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru on the night of Wednesday, 16 July, with breathing complications, chest congestion, and age-related ailments. She is being laid to rest with full traditional honours in Hassan district.

Prison Authorities Grant Virtual Access

Bengaluru Central Prison authorities confirmed that Prajwal Revanna submitted no application for parole or temporary bail. Instead, he requested permission to attend the last rites virtually, on humanitarian grounds — a request the prison administration approved.

'Prisoner Prajwal Revanna had sought permission to participate in the funeral through video conference, and the request has been granted,' prison department officials confirmed.

Officials said he will watch the proceedings either through a television set in his cell or via a video conferencing facility arranged by the prison administration.

Why No Parole Was Sought

According to insiders, the decision not to seek parole was made on the advice of his father, former minister and Janata Dal (Secular) MLA H.D. Revanna. The family reportedly felt that Prajwal's physical presence at the funeral could draw public attention and cause inconvenience to both the family and authorities, given the circumstances of his conviction.

Under standard prison regulations, a convicted prisoner becomes eligible for parole only after serving a minimum prescribed period of imprisonment. In cases involving serious offences such as rape, emergency release is granted only in exceptional circumstances and requires approval from competent authorities.

Background: Conviction and Custody

Prajwal Revanna is currently lodged in Bengaluru Central Prison following his conviction in a rape case. His incarceration has kept him at the centre of public and political scrutiny, making any movement outside prison a sensitive matter. This is the first major family bereavement he has faced since his imprisonment.

The virtual participation arrangement reflects the prison system's effort to balance humanitarian considerations with the legal constraints around serious offences — and sets a notable precedent for how such situations are handled going forward.