Former MP Prajwal Revanna sentenced to life imprisonment for sexually assaulting housemaid

BENGALURU: Former JDS MP Prajwal Revanna has been sentenced to life imprisonment in a sexual harassment case. A fine of Rs 10 lakh has also been imposed. Seven lakh will be given to the victim. The special court in Bengaluru had found Prajwal Revanna guilty in the case yesterday. The verdict has been issued in the first of four cases against Prajwal.

The verdict was issued in a case registered last year on a complaint filed by a 48-year-old woman who was a maid at the Revanna family's farmhouse in Hassan. The case alleges that she was raped twice in 2021 and the footage was recorded on a mobile phone. The court had earlier examined 26 pieces of evidence, including video footage. The complaint was filed after footage of Prajwal abusing several women surfaced.

Prajwal's father-MLA HD Revanna and mother Bhavani Revanna were arrested by the police for kidnapping the complainant to prevent her from giving a statement against Prajwal. They were later released on bail. The case, which concluded on July 18, was adjourned for judgment on Wednesday, but Judge Santosh Gajanan Bhat postponed the verdict as some matters needed clarification.

Around 2000 obscene images of Prajwal were leaked during the last Lok Sabha elections. This created a huge political uproar in Karnataka. Prajwal was the JDS candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha constituency. After the images went viral, Prajwal went abroad on the night of the election. When he returned due to pressure, he was arrested by a Special Investigation Team at the Bengaluru airport on May 31 last year. Prajwal lost the election by more than 40,000 votes.

Prajwal is facing four criminal cases including sexual assault, criminal intimidation, video recording and dissemination. Prajwal is currently in judicial custody at Parappana Agrahara Jail. Prajwal is the grandson of former Prime Minister and JDS leader HD Deve Gowda.