Bengaluru, August 1 — A special court for cases involving elected representatives has convicted former Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna for raping a 47-year-old domestic worker, marking a significant development in the high-profile case that has rocked Karnataka politics.
Revanna, the grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Devegowda, was found guilty in one of four rape cases registered against him. The court is expected to pronounce the sentence on Saturday.
The trial was conducted under tight scrutiny, following allegations that sent shockwaves through political and public circles earlier this year. Revanna faced multiple charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including:
- Section 376(2)(k) – Rape by a person having control or dominance over a woman
- Section 376(2)(n) – Repeated rape
- Section 354A – Sexual harassment
- Section 354B – Assault or use of criminal force to disrobe a woman
- Section 354C – Voyeurism
- Section 506 – Criminal intimidation
- Section 201 – Destruction of evidence
He was also charged under Section 66E of the Information Technology Act for violating the victim’s privacy.
The special court had formally framed charges earlier this year, and the trial began on May 2. Special Public Prosecutor Ashok Nayak informed The Times of India that the case involved the examination of 26 witnesses and submission of 180 documentary exhibits. “It took 38 hearings to conclude the trial, including the arguments,” Nayak said.
This conviction comes amid heightened public interest and scrutiny over the handling of sexual violence cases involving powerful individuals. The remaining cases against Revanna are pending, and today’s verdict could potentially influence the trajectory of those trials.
The quantum of punishment will be delivered by the court on Saturday.
