Former Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, now serving a life sentence for rape, has been assigned duties as a library clerk at Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, where he will be paid Rs 522 per day.
Prison authorities said Revanna’s responsibilities include issuing books to fellow inmates and maintaining lending records. “He is entitled to Rs 522 for each day of work, provided he completes the prescribed duties. In line with prison rules, life convicts are required to perform some form of labour, and assignments are made depending on their skills and willingness,” a senior jail official said on Sunday.
Revanna had expressed interest in administrative work, but the prison administration placed him in the library instead. Sources said he has already completed one day of duty in this role. Inmates are usually expected to work at least 12 days a month, typically spread over three days a week. His schedule, however, remains limited as he spends considerable time attending court hearings and consulting his lawyers.
The grandson of former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and son of senior Janata Dal (Secular) leader H D Revanna, Prajwal Revanna was arrested earlier this year after weeks on the run. He had fled India in April 2024, days after multiple women came forward accusing him of sexual assault. A series of obscene videos allegedly featuring him went viral, triggering public outrage and political embarrassment for the JD(S) at the height of the Lok Sabha election campaign.
Amid mounting pressure, an Interpol Blue Corner notice was issued against him, and he was eventually detained in Germany before being extradited to India in June 2024. He was arrested on arrival at Bengaluru airport and has since faced multiple cases of rape and sexual abuse filed against him in Karnataka.
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In May this year, a special court convicted him in one of the rape cases and handed down a life sentence. The conviction marked a dramatic fall for the 34-year-old politician, who in 2019 had become the youngest MP from Karnataka when he won the Hassan Lok Sabha seat on a JD(S) ticket.
Revanna’s conviction has dealt a blow to the Deve Gowda family’s political legacy in Hassan, where they had maintained strong influence for decades. His father, H D Revanna, continues to represent Holenarasipura in the state assembly, but the scandal has tarnished the family’s public standing.
Within the high walls of Parappana Agrahara prison, Revanna now finds himself far removed from political power, serving books to convicts and keeping their records in order. Prison officials maintained that his new role is in keeping with established rules. “Life convicts are expected to contribute through labour. It also helps in discipline and rehabilitation,” a jail officer said.
While his lawyers have indicated they will appeal against the conviction, Revanna continues to face additional trials in connection with other complaints filed by women who accused him of sexual exploitation. His time in the library, sources noted, may therefore be interrupted frequently by further court appearances.
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