Bengaluru: Prajwal Revanna, a 34-year-old former Member of Parliament, has been handed down a life term and an 11.5 lakh penalty for raping an older woman.
The sentencing comes in one of four rape and sexual harassment cases against the former MP from Hassan, with the others pending in various stages, be it under investigation or in the courts.
Special Courts for MP/MLA pronounced his sentence, a day after it pronounced Revanna, the grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, guilty of the crime. Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat passed the order.
The two special public prosecutors (SPPs) who spoke to reporters after the sentencing said that of the Rs 11.5 lakh fine imposed on Revanna, the victim will get Rs 11.25 lakh.
“The court has pronounced life imprisonment, which, according to law, means the accused (Prajwal) has to remain in jail for his entire lifespan,” Ashok Nayak, one of the two SPPs, told reporters outside the court Saturday. He said the prosecution argued in favour of maximum punishment for Revanna, who misused his position as an MP to exploit and assault the innocent woman.
Prajwal, accused of holding a position of control or dominance over a woman and committing rape, was sentenced to life imprisonment under Section 376 (2)K of the Indian Penal Code. He has also been charged under IPC 376(2)n for repeated rape, among others. Other IPC sections, 354A (outraging modesty), 354B (assault or use of criminal force on a woman with the intent to disrobe her), 354C (voyeurism), 506 (criminal intimidation), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of a crime), and Section 66E of IT Act, were also reportedly slapped on Revanna.
In court, Prajwal Revanna was seen sobbing and pleading for a lighter sentence, claiming those with vested interests were targeting him and his family.
For the victim’s family, it is justice after all long struggle. “For all that we were forced to endure, the judgment has been worthwhile … if such powerful people are taught a lesson, others who even think of this will fear that they are also not infallible,” said one relative of the victim, requesting anonymity.
The case & arguments
B.N. Jagadeesha, the second SPP, said it was unfortunate that the defence argued that the victim was married, had children, and did not endure any problems after the offence of rape. “According to me, an unfortunate argument because only those raped know the injustice and exploitation they endure,” he told reporters. “It should not have, so cheaply, been viewed.”
On the eve of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, hundreds of pen drives, with videos in which the then-MP was seen sexually assaulting women, got dropped off across public spaces in Hassan. At the time, four women came forward and lodged complaints against Prajwal Revanna under charges of rape and criminal intimidation, among other serious charges.
In the present case, the victim, along with her husband and sister, worked for the H.D. Revanna family at their farm in Gannikada in the Hassan district around four years ago. One of the videos shows the woman begging and pleading with Prajwal Revanna not to rape her. “Beda Anna, bittbidi (do not, brother; please spare me),” she says.
After the videos came to light, her son attempted suicide by jumping into the nearby Cauvery River, but relatives rescued him just in time. He later filed a complaint against Prajwal’s father and former minister H.D. Revanna, his wife and aides, saying they abducted his mother so she could not testify against Prajwal Revanna. However, she was later rescued.
The case of kidnapping against Prajwal’s parents is separate. The abduction and other charges against H.D. Revanna and his wife, Bhavani Revanna, are still under trial.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
Also Read: How videos recorded by Prajwal Revanna himself sealed his fate in rape case