Former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna given life sentence in rape case
Prajwal Revanna is the grandson of former Prime Minister and JD (S) patriarch HD Deve Gowda.
PTI
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Former MP and suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna at court premises, in Bengaluru (PTI)
A Special Court here on Saturday sentenced to life imprisonment, former
MP and suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna in a rape case.
The Special Court for MPs/MLAs Judge Santosh Gajanan Bhat also imposed a
total fine of Rs 10 lakh on the accused.
The court had on Friday convicted the 34-year-old in one of the four sexual abuse and rape cases registered against him and reserved the sentencing
for Saturday.
The case pertains to a 48-year-old woman who was working as a help at
the family's Gannikada farmhouse in Hassan district's Holenarasipura. She was
allegedly raped twice -- at Hassan farm house and Bengaluru residence-- in 2021 and the act recorded by the accused on his mobile phone.
Earlier in the day, while the prosecution sought life sentence for
Revanna, the 34 year-old sought leniency, claiming he did nothing wrong and
that his only mistake was his 'fast' growth in politics.
He broke down in court as he appealed to the judge for a lesser punishment.
He told the court that he is a BE Mechanical graduate, and has always
passed on merit.
"...they say that I have raped multiple women, but none of the
women have come out voluntarily to complain, they came six days prior to
election (Lok Sabha polls last year)...the prosecution side brought them
purposefully and made them give a complaint," Prajwal told the court.
Pointing out that the woman (victim) had not complained to anyone
including her husband or kin about the alleged rape, he said that she comes and
gives complaint when certain videos were circulated.
Stating that he will bow down to the court's conviction, Prajwal said,
"I have a family, I have not seen my mother and father for six months
now.....please give me a less sentence is what I request the court."
"The only mistake I made in my life is growing fast in
politics," Prajwal, arrested in May last year upon his arrival from
Germany, told the court.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) which probed the case had filed a
1,632-page charge sheet with 113 witnesses in the case in September, 2024.
Revanna was booked under sections 376(2)(k) (being in a position of
control or dominance over a woman, commits rape on such woman), 376 (2)(n)
(repeated rape on the same woman), 354A (sexual harassment), 354B (assault or
use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 354C (voyeurism), 506
(criminal intimidation) and 201 (disappearance of evidence) of the IPC, and
Section 66E (violation of privacy) of the IT Act.
Special Public Prosecutor Ashok Nayak and Additional SPP BN Jagadeesha following
Prajwal Revanna's conviction on Friday had said that the court had accepted the
prosecution's case and convicted him on all counts.
Noting that the prosecution examined 26 witnesses and marked 180
documents and the main evidence is of the victim, Nayak said the prosecution
relied not only on the oral evidence, but also the digital and technical
evidence, DNA report and Forensic Sciences Laboratory report.
"The clothes that were worn by the victim during the rape were also
identified and the Investigation Officer (IO) was successful in seizing them
even after three-four years. Also, digital evidence played a role as the
accused himself had recorded the video."
Four separate cases have been registered against Revanna, who is facing
charges of rape and sexual harassment, and the SIT was tasked with probing
cases.
Prajwal Revanna is the grandson of former Prime Minister and JD (S)
patriarch HD Deve Gowda.
The cases came to light after pen-drives containing explicit videos
allegedly involving Revanna were reportedly circulated in Hassan, ahead of Lok
Sabha polls there on 26 April, 2024
Revanna was arrested by the SIT on 31 May last year, upon his arrival at
Bengaluru Airport from Germany in connection with a case registered at the
Holenarasipura Town Police Station.
Revanna had failed in his bid to retain the Hassan parliamentary
constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. JD(S) suspended him from the party
following the cases filed against him.
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