Kidnapping Case: K’taka HC Denies to Cancel HD Revanna’s Bail

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) seeking the cancellation of bail granted to Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Revanna, who is accused of abducting a woman.

Justice M Nagaprasanna, sitting as a single bench, upheld the bail granted to Revanna on May 13. The Court also granted bail to six other accused in the case, subject to their execution of bail bonds amounting to ₹5 lakh each.

Representing the SIT, Senior Advocate Ravivarma Kumar, argued that bail should not have been granted in a case of such severity. He contended that the trial court’s decision to grant bail was erroneous and should be revoked.

Conversely, Senior Advocate CV Nagesh, appearing for Revanna, countered that the prosecution was not merely seeking the cancellation of bail but was challenging the order that initially granted it. He argued that the charge of kidnapping was untenable as the alleged victim was not a minor, and the abduction charge could not be upheld due to the absence of deceit.

“The victim was a maidservant who was called to the house. There was no deceit, no threat, and no detention,” he stated. He further emphasized that there was no indication that the domestic help, the alleged victim of rape and sexual assault in the Prajwal Revanna case, was abducted at the behest of HD Revanna or his wife.

The charges against HD Revanna are related to sexual abuse allegations against his son, suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna. HD Revanna is facing two criminal cases: one involving allegations of sexual assault and the other concerning allegations of kidnapping. He was granted bail in both cases on May 13.

The sexual abuse allegations against Prajwal Revanna arose after more than 2,900 videos depicting the sexual assault of multiple women were circulated, including on social media.