Former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna has approached the Karnataka High Court challenging his conviction in a rape case.
The special court that found him guilty in August sentenced him to life imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life and imposed fines in one of the four sexual abuse and rape cases against him.
Special Court Verdict
On August 2, Judge Santosh Gajanan Bhat of the Special Court for MPs/MLAs convicted Revanna under multiple provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The court imposed a total fine of ₹11.50 lakh, of which ₹11.25 lakh was directed to be paid to the victim.
Revanna, arrested in May 2024 after returning from Germany, is now contesting the verdict. He has raised objections over what he calls contradictions in the survivor’s testimony and alleged inconsistencies in the prosecution’s evidence.
Case Background
The case concerns a 48-year-old woman employed as domestic help at the family’s Gannikada farmhouse in Holenarasipura, Hassan district. She accused Revanna of raping her twice in 2021 — once at the Hassan farmhouse and later at the family’s Bengaluru residence. According to the charges, Revanna also recorded the act on his mobile phone.
During trial, the court relied on several pieces of evidence including video recordings, DNA analysis of hair strands, and biological traces on the survivor’s clothing to establish guilt.
Grounds Of Appeal
In his petition before the High Court, Revanna has argued that the complainant’s statement in court does not match her initial police complaint. He has also challenged the reliability of certain evidence, citing for instance that stains on a mattress examined in May 2024 had allegedly remained uncleaned since the assault, which reportedly occurred between January 2021 and January 2022.
The plea also points to the delay in filing the complaint and the fact that the survivor later attended a housewarming function at the same farmhouse in 2023.
Sections Invoked
Revanna was booked under multiple IPC provisions:
- 376(2)(k): Rape by a person in a position of dominance
- 376(2)(n): Repeated rape on the same woman
- 354A: Sexual harassment
- 354B: Assault or use of force with intent to disrobe
- 354C: Voyeurism
- 506: Criminal intimidation
- 201: Destruction of evidence
He was also charged under Section 66E of the IT Act for violation of privacy.
Sentences Awarded
The court handed down multiple punishments, including:
- Life imprisonment and ₹5 lakh fine under Section 376(2)(k)
- Life imprisonment for the remainder of natural life and ₹5 lakh fine under Section 376(2)(n)
- Rigorous imprisonment of 3 years and ₹25,000 fine under Section 354A
- Rigorous imprisonment of 7 years and ₹50,000 fine under Section 354B
- Rigorous imprisonment of 3 years and ₹25,000 fine under Section 354C
- Rigorous imprisonment of 2 years and ₹10,000 fine under Section 506
- Three years’ imprisonment and ₹25,000 fine each under Sections 201 and 66E of the IT Act
Last week, the Karnataka High Court dismissed another plea by Revanna seeking transfer of two pending cases from the same judge, citing alleged bias. The High Court has not yet scheduled a hearing for his latest appeal.
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