A trial court in Bengaluru on Saturday sentenced former Janata Dal (Secular) MP Prajwal Revanna to life imprisonment for repeatedly raping his maid and recording videos of the act.
The Court also ordered Revanna to pay ₹11 lakh compensation to the victim.
The order was passed by Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat. The Court had on Friday convicted Revanna before hearing him on the quantum of sentence today.
The Court found him guilty of the following offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology Act (IT Act):
– Section 376(2)(k) of IPC [rape of a woman by a person who is in a dominant position or a position of control] – Life imprisonment and ₹5 lakh;
– Section 376(2)(n) of IPC [repeatedly raping a woman] – Life imprisonment till death and ₹5 lakh;
– Section 354A of IPC (outraging modesty) – 3 years’ imprisonment and ₹25k;
– Section 354B of IPC (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe) – 7 years’ imprisonment and ₹50k;
– Section 354C of IPC (voyeurism) – 3 years’ imprisonment ₹25k;
– Section 506 of IPC (criminal intimidation) – 2 years’ imprisonment and ₹10k;
– Section 201 of IPC (causing the disappearance of evidence of a crime) – 3 years imprisonment and ₹20k;
– Section 66E of IT Act- 3 years’ imprisonment and ₹25k.
During the hearing on sentencing, Revanna questioned the timing and motive of the allegations against him.
“When I was serving my term [as Member of Parliament], not a single complaint was brought forward. It is only during the elections that these allegations have suddenly surfaced,” he said.
He, however, added that he would respect the decision of the Court.
Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) BN Jagadeesha earlier submitted that stringent and rigorous punishment must be imposed on Revanna
“The motive and intent of the crime should be considered,” the SPP argued, while demanding life imprisonment in the case.
However, Senior Advocate Nalina Mayegowda, appearing for Revanna, submitted that Revanna is a young individual who has been engaged in charitable activities for several years.
“These good deeds and contributions to society should be taken into consideration by this Hon’ble Court,” the senior counsel said.
His name and reputation have been severely tarnished as a result of these proceedings, the Court was further told.
Revanna told the Court that he is a meritorious student and being thrust into politics early cost him.
“I am a meritorious student, a mechanical engineering graduate. I grew up in politics early, this as costs me. However, I will bow before the court for verdict,” Revanna stated.
The case involves allegations that a maid, who used to work at a farmhouse belonging to the Revanna family, was repeatedly raped by Prajwal Revanna, the first such incident being around 2021 during the COVID-lockdown.
She claimed that she did not speak out about the incident as Revanna recorded visuals of the assault and threatened to leak them.
She eventually quit her job and kept quiet until reports emerged of the visuals of such sexual assault being leaked.
According to reports, over 2,900 videos depicting the sexual assault of several women were circulated online, including on social media.
This prompted her to file a complaint last year. Four such cases were eventually registered against Revanna.
Amid public uproar, Revanna fled to Germany soon after the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in the State.
He was arrested upon his return to India on May 31, 2024 and has been in jail since.
In April this year, the trial court had framed various criminal charges against Revanna for various offences under IPC.
Additionally, Revanna was also charged with the offence under Section 66E of the Information Technology Act, 2008, which punishes acts that violate the privacy of a person, such as circulating private images without consent.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) that probed the case filed its chargesheet in August 2024.
In response, Prajwal Revanna filed an application to discharge him from the case, contending that there was not enough evidence to implicate him in the case.
Revanna’s counsel argued that the grave allegations made against him were far from the truth and were part of attempts to tarnish his reputation.
Revanna also questioned the delay in reporting the alleged rape incident, given that the first such assault was alleged to have taken place in 2021.
The SIT countered that four volumes of materials have been collected against Revanna, and that videos of the sexual assault were found to be authentic after forensic analysis.
On April 3, the trial court rejected Revanna’s discharge application on finding that there was sufficient material to frame charges against him and conduct a trial.
The Court clarified that issues such as the delay in reporting the crime and the failure to recover the original device on which visuals of the alleged assault were recorded, may have to be explained by the prosecution.
