Ex-MP Prajwal Revanna has filed an appeal challenging his life imprisonment in a high-profile rape case. The Karnataka High Court has issued a notice to the state government.
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KARNATAKA: The Karnataka High Court has issued a notice to the state government regarding the appeal filed by former Member of Parliament (MP) Prajwal Revanna, challenging his life imprisonment conviction in a rape case. The case, registered at the Holenarasipura Rural Police Station in Hassan District, has garnered widespread attention due to the serious nature of the allegations and the prominent political figure involved.
Background of the Case
Prajwal Revanna, a former JD(S) MP from the Hassan constituency, was convicted by a special court in Bengaluru on August 2, 2025, for repeatedly raping his domestic help at locations in Holenarasipur and Banashankari, Bengaluru, between January 2021 and January 2022. The charges also included recording videos of the assaults. The trial court sentenced him to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹10 lakh, directing that ₹10 lakh from the amount be paid as compensation to the survivor.
Grounds for Appeal
In his appeal, Revanna has questioned the credibility of the survivor’s complaint and testimony, alleging that police coerced the survivor into filing the complaint. He also challenged the validity of evidence, such as bodily fluid stains found years later, and urged the high court to overturn the conviction due to alleged inconsistencies and procedural issues in the prosecution’s case.
Legal Proceedings
The Karnataka High Court has now issued a notice to the state government, seeking its response to Revanna’s appeal. The court is expected to schedule a hearing in the coming weeks to consider the arguments presented by both parties. The outcome of this appeal could have significant implications for the legal proceedings in the other cases pending against Revanna.
Earlier in April, the trial court had outlined various criminal charges against Revanna under several provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including:
- Section 376(2)(k) (rape by a person in a position of dominance);
- Section 376(2)(n) (repeated rape);
- Section 354A (outraging modesty);
- Section 354B (assault or use of criminal force to disrobe);
- Section 354C (voyeurism);
- Section 506 (criminal intimidation); and
- Section 201 (causing the disappearance of evidence).
Additionally, Revanna faced charges under Section 66E of the Information Technology Act, 2008, which penalizes violations of personal privacy, such as sharing private images without consent.
He is the primary suspect in four cases stemming from the circulation of over 2,900 videos showing the sexual assault of multiple women on various online platforms.
The first case was initiated in April of last year by a domestic worker previously employed at the Revanna family’s farmhouse. She alleged that Prajwal Revanna raped her repeatedly and threatened to release footage of the assaults if she spoke out, with the first incident reportedly occurring in 2021.
A trial court in Bengaluru has charged Revanna with several offenses, including rape, voyeurism, criminal intimidation, and the unauthorized distribution of private images.
The court, on July 18, reserved its judgment.
Following public opposition, Revanna fled to Germany after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections but was arrested upon returning to India on May 31, 2024, and has been in custody since. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) that investigated the case submitted its chargesheet in August 2024.
Suspended JD(S) leader and former MP Prajwal Revanna is facing multiple rape and sexual assault cases, following the leak of over 2,900 objectionable videos involving several women. After fleeing the country in April 2024, he returned and is currently in custody.
