Karnataka High Court Issues Notice On Former MP Prajwal Revanna's Appeal Against Conviction, Life Sentence In Rape Case

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday issued notice to the State on an appeal preferred by Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former MP Prajwal Revanna, challenging his conviction and life sentence in the first rape case registered against him at the Holenarasipura Rural Police Station of Hassan District.

A division bench of Justice K S Mudagal and Justice Venkatesh Naik T directed Prajwal's counsel to file a comprehensive synopsis. It also asked the State counsel to apprise whether a Special Public Prosecutor has been appointed to argue the appeal, as was done during the trial.

The matter will now be heard on October 28.

Additional City Civil and Session Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat had on April 3, framed charges against Revanna under Sections 376(2)(k) (rape by a person in a position of dominance), 376(2)(n) (repeated rape), 354(A) (sexual harassment), 354(B) (assault or use of force with intent to disrobe), 354(C) (voyeurism), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) and Section 66(e) of the Information Technology Act.

The judge had convicted him for all charges and on August 2, he was sentenced to life imprisonment.

In his appeal, Prajwal contends that the SIT was under political pressure to tarnish his reputation. He submitted that a delay of more than 3 years in lodging the complaint is unnatural, and points to falsity of the case. He argued that if the complainant had really undergone the ordeal as alleged, she could have spelt out the same to someone in whom she reposes confidence.

It is also contended that on filtering the entire oral and documentary evidence available on record, it is clear that the prosecution made all efforts to "concoct and fabricate" its case.

As per prosecution, the victim worked as a maid at a farmhouse owned by the Revanna family. It is claimed that from 2021, during the COVID-19 lockdown, Revanna repeatedly raped her and filmed the assaults in different locations. Further, it is alleged that Revanna used the videos to intimidate and silence her, preventing her from complaining.

The SIT is investigating two more cases registered against Prajwal and he is presently in judicial custody. He was arrested from the Bengaluru Airport on his arrival from Germany on May 30 last year.

Case Title: State By Special Investigation Team AND Prajwal Revanna

Case No: Criminal Appeal No. 1977/2025