Former Lok Sabha member Prajwal Revanna, grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping and blackmailing his domestic help over a prolonged period.
A special court in Bengaluru dealing with cases involving MPs and MLAs handed down the sentence on Saturday, a day after convicting Revanna under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including rape, criminal intimidation, voyeurism, and unauthorised circulation of explicit content.
The 48-year-old woman, employed at the Revanna family’s farmhouse in Holenarasipura in Hassan district, had alleged that the former Janata Dal (Secular) MP repeatedly raped her since 2021. She told the court that he recorded videos of the assault and threatened to release them publicly if she spoke out.
Revanna, who represented Hassan in the 17th Lok Sabha, was booked earlier this year after several allegations emerged, including from other women who also accused him of sexual exploitation. The case triggered a political storm in Karnataka, with the ruling JD(S) distancing itself from him following widespread outrage.
The complaint that led to his conviction was lodged by the woman in April 2025. She stated that she had endured years of abuse due to threats and coercion, before finally approaching the police. Forensic experts confirmed the authenticity of the video evidence, and charges were formally framed by the special court soon after.
Also read: Rape convict Prajwal Revanna pleads for lesser punishment
The court found the conduct of Revanna "heinous and calculated", and noted the "gross abuse of political power, trust and influence".
This case is not the only controversy surrounding Revanna. He was previously under scrutiny for alleged sexual exploitation of multiple women, including during his tenure as MP. A multi-agency investigation is currently examining the contents of several seized devices that allegedly contain dozens of such videos.
Revanna had initially denied all charges, calling them politically motivated. However, the evidence presented, including digital recordings and witness testimonies, proved conclusive in securing his conviction.
The special court observed that his actions amounted to a “gross betrayal of trust” and ruled out any leniency given the gravity of the offences and his position of power.
Revanna has been taken into custody and sent to Bengaluru Central Prison to serve his sentence. His legal team is expected to appeal against the verdict.
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