A Bengaluru trial court discharged JD(S) MLA HD Revanna from the sexual harassment case, refusing to condone a four-year delay in filing the complaint. The court held that cognisance under Section 354A IPC was barred by limitation under CrPC.
A Bengaluru trial court on Monday discharged Janata Dal (Secular) MLA HD Revanna from the sexual harassment case that had been filed against him along with his son, former MP Prajwal Revanna. The order was passed after the court concluded that the long delay in filing the complaint could not be legally condoned.
The case was heard by the XLII Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, KN Shivakumar, who examined the issue of limitation as directed earlier by the Karnataka High Court. The High Court had sent the matter back to the trial court to decide whether the four-year delay in filing the complaint could be excused under law.
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In its order passed on Monday, the trial court clearly stated:
“This is not a fit case to condone the delay in lodging the complaint or initiation of prosecution in respect of the offence punishable U/Sec.354A of IPC alleged against accused No.1 U/Sec.473 Cr.P.C. Accordingly, this court is declined to take cognizance of said offence punishable U/Sec.354A of IPC as against accused No.1. As such, the accused No.1 is discharged from the offence alleged against him in this case U/Sec.354A of IPC.”
With this order, HD Revanna has been discharged only from the offence under Section 354A of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with sexual harassment.
The allegations against HD Revanna and his son Prajwal Revanna came to light after more than 2,900 videos allegedly showing sexual abuse of several women surfaced and were widely circulated on social media. The videos triggered widespread public outrage and led to multiple criminal complaints.
Following this, on April 28, the police registered a first information report at the Holenaraseepur town police station in Hassan district.
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The FIR named Prajwal Revanna and HD Revanna as accused and invoked Sections 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 509 (insulting the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code. The case was registered based on a complaint filed by one of the alleged victims.
HD Revanna was facing two separate criminal cases — one related to sexual assault allegations and another related to kidnapping. He was granted bail in both matters on May 13.
While seeking quashing of proceedings before the Karnataka High Court, HD Revanna argued that the trial court was barred from taking cognisance of the offence due to limitation under Section 468 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
This provision fixes a limitation period of three years for offences that carry a maximum punishment of one to three years.
However, Section 473 of the CrPC allows courts to take cognisance even after the expiry of the limitation period if the delay is properly explained and justified.
While examining Revanna’s plea, the High Court had observed:
“As the maximum punishment prescribed under Section 354A of IPC is for a period of three years, it is essential to consider whether it is a fit case to extend the period of limitation or not as per Section 473 of Cr.P.C.”
Based on this observation, the High Court remanded the matter to the trial court to independently assess whether the delay in filing the complaint deserved to be condoned. After reconsidering the issue, the trial court declined to condone the delay and discharged HD Revanna from the offence under Section 354A IPC.
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Advocate G Arun appeared on behalf of HD Revanna, while Special Public Prosecutor Ashok Naik represented the State in the proceedings.
The order marks a significant development in the high-profile case that has drawn national attention due to the serious nature of allegations and the political stature of the accused.
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