The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the bail plea of Janata Dal (Secular) leader Prajwal Revanna in connection with multiple rape and sexual assault cases against him.
The Karnataka High Court had previously rejected his bail application.
A bench comprising Justices Bela M. Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma heard the petition and, after considering the seriousness of the charges, decided to deny bail. The bench took note of the multiple complaints filed against Revanna, despite his counsel’s argument that the complaint did not specifically mention rape.
Revanna, the grandson of JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, is accused of sexually assaulting several women and recording the acts. He contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Hassan but lost to Congress candidate Shreyas Patel. The sexual assault allegations surfaced after the elections, with Revanna leaving for Germany shortly afterward. He was arrested by a Special Investigation Team immediately upon his return to India.
The allegations came to light when pen drives containing videos of the alleged assaults were circulated in Hassan just before the elections. Revanna faces charges under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Sections 376(2)(n) (rape committed repeatedly on the same woman), 376(2)(k) (rape while in a position of control or dominance over a woman), 506 (criminal intimidation), 354(a) (sexual harassment), 354(b) (assault or use of criminal force with intent to disrobe), and 354(c) (voyeurism).
He is also charged under Section 66E of the Information Technology Act for violating privacy.
In total, Revanna faces charges in four separate cases. His father, Revanna, and mother, Bhavani, are also facing charges in connection with the cases. His brother, Suraj Revanna, was arrested earlier for sexually assaulting a party worker.
