Revanna challenges life sentence and conviction in High Court, citing inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case.
Former Janata Dal (Secular) MP Prajwal Revanna has filed an appeal with the Karnataka High Court contesting his conviction in a rape case handed down by a special court on August 1. Revanna is also challenging the life sentence imposed on him by Bengaluru Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat.
The case revolves around allegations that Revanna raped a 48-year-old worker who was employed at his family’s farmhouse. It was reported that he recorded the assault, contributing to the severity of the charges against him. Revanna’s legal troubles escalated after his arrest on May 31, 2024, when he returned to Bengaluru from Germany. He had fled to Germany on April 26, 2024, amid rising allegations and public scrutiny following the emergence of videos purportedly showing him inappropriately interacting with multiple women.
Upon his return, Revanna was suspended from his party, the Janata Dal (Secular), on April 30, 2024, as the allegations against him intensified. The situation grew more complex as he became the subject of four separate cases involving accusations from three different women, all alleging sexual assault. The fourth case includes charges of sexual harassment, stalking, and criminal intimidation under the Indian Penal Code.
Before his flight to Germany, both Revanna and his father, former state minister HD Revanna, were implicated by the Karnataka Police in cases of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation. The charges against Prajwal Revanna included serious accusations under the Indian Penal Code, specifically those related to his position of power over the woman involved and committing repeated acts of rape against her.
In his petition to the High Court, Revanna argues that there are significant contradictions between the worker’s complaint and her testimony. He contends that the police coerced her into filing the complaint against him. This assertion forms a critical part of his appeal, as he seeks to have the special court’s verdict overturned and the conviction annulled. Revanna’s legal team has emphasized that the prosecution’s case is riddled with inconsistencies and procedural errors, which they believe undermines the integrity of the conviction.
The ongoing developments in this case have attracted considerable media attention, given the nature of the allegations and the prominent position of Revanna as a former MP. As he pursues his appeal, the legal proceedings will continue to unfold in the Karnataka High Court, with implications that may extend beyond his personal circumstances, reflecting broader societal issues related to accountability and justice.
