Prajwal Revanna sentenced to life imprisonment in rape case

Special court judge also imposed a fine of Rs 11.50 lakh on Prajwal and awarded Rs 11.25 lakh, of the fine amount, as compensation to the victim.

Bengaluru: A special court for MPs/MLAs has ordered a maximum life sentence (imprisonment for the remainder of person’s natural life) to Prajwal Revanna, son of JD(S) leader HD Revanna, in the first of the four cases of rape/sexual abuse against him.

Special court judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat also imposed a fine of Rs 11.50 lakh on Prajwal and awarded Rs 11.25 lakh, of the fine amount, as compensation to the victim.

The special court had on Friday convicted Prajwal for offences under IPC sections 376(2)(k), (2)(n), 354-A, 354-B, 354-C, 506, 201 and section 66(E) of Information Technology (IT) Act. On Saturday, after hearing the parties on quantum of punishment, the court sentenced Prajwal to life imprisonment for offence under IPC section 376(2)(k) for being in a position of control or dominance over a woman and committing rape on such woman. The court ordered life sentence with imprisonment for the remaining period of his life for offence under IPC section 376(2)(n)  for repeated rape on the same woman.  

The court also sentenced rigorous imprisonments for offences under IPC sections 354-A, 354-B, 354-C, 506, 201 for sexual assault, voyeurism, criminal intimidation and destruction of evidence and also under section 66E of Information of Technology Act for violation of privacy.

“It is hereby made clear that even if the accused undergoes the default sentence, he will not be absolved of his liability to pay a fine amount in view of the provisos to sub-section (1) of section 421 of CrPC. The substantive sentences of imprisonment shall run concurrently. The accused is not given any set-off since he was not in custody in the above case and was secured under body warrant,” special court judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat said.

The case pertains to the sexual assault of a woman, 48, who worked as a maid at the Gannikada guest house in Hassan, which belongs to the Revanna family. Prajwal had also recorded the act on his mobile phone. This is the first of the four cases of sexual harassment registered against Prajwal.

Prosecution argued for maximum sentence

Earlier in the day, during the argument on the quantum of punishment, the prosecutors said that Prajwal deserves a maximum punishment since the brutal act of rape and video recording of the act was done by him as a parliamentarian, as was he at the time of the incident in 2021. The prosecutors also requested the court to impose exemplary cost on Prajwal and that a major portion of it be awarded to the victim as she is from a humble background. The victim was working as a maid servant for a meager salary of Rs 10,000 and had even thought of ending her life after the videos surfaced in public.

On the other hand, the advocate for Prajwal requested the court to take a lenient view considering he has been in judicial custody since his arrest in May 2024 and has not met his parents. The advocate said that he was elected as MP at a young age and that the videos were leaked deliberately at the time of Lok Sabha elections in 2024. 

Fast growth in politics, the only mistake, says Prajwal: 

Meanwhile, the court also afforded an opportunity to Prajwal to make his submission on the quantum of punishment. Prajwal prayed for a lesser punishment saying that he studied mechanical engineering and was a meritorious student. Prajwal said his only mistake was his fast growth in politics. He said that no one filed a complaint while he was serving as a MP, the videos were leaked a few days prior to the elections.