Former JD-S MP Prajwal Revanna sentenced to life

Bengaluru: Expelled JD(S) leader and former MP from Hassan, Prajwal Revanna, has been sentenced to life term by a special court in Karnataka, a day after being found guilty of raping a domestic help at a farmhouse in Holenarasipura.

Special Public Prosecutor Ashok Nayak called the verdict “a victory for the victim” and “a message that everyone is equal before the law”.Prosecution pushed for life imprisonment for Revanna. He revealed that 26 witnesses were examined, and crucial digital evidence – including explicit videos recorded by Revanna himself – played a key role in securing the conviction.

Revanna, the grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, had earlier broken down in court following his conviction on Friday. The case dates back 3–4 years but only came to light in April 2024, after hundreds of sexually explicit videos surfaced online just before the Lok Sabha elections.

Revanna was arrested in May 2024 at Bengaluru airport after evading authorities for 35 days in Germany. His bail pleas were rejected by both the Karnataka High Court and the Supreme Court.

This is the first conviction in a series of four criminal cases filed against Revanna. Apart from rape, he also faces charges under laws pertaining to sexual harassment, stalking, criminal intimidation, and non-consensual recording of sexual acts.

Political backlash mounts

The sentencing has reignited criticism of the JD(S)–BJP alliance, with Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge slamming the silence of BJP leaders. “Shame on you. If he is convicted, he should have retired from political and public life... This is disgusting,” Kharge said, questioning the relevance of the BJP's Beti Bachao Beti Padhao slogan.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had declined to comment, saying, “The law of the land is the verdict.”

While the victim's fight for justice has now reached a milestone with the sentencing, the political ripples are expected to continue. Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which filed a 2,144-page chargesheet last year, is still pursuing the remaining cases.

Special Prosecutor Nayak said the case sets a precedent: “The accused himself recorded the videos. The digital trail revealed everything. This trial shows that powerful individuals will also face consequences.”