Life sentence for Prajwal Revanna in first-of-its-kind rape trial

On August 2, 2025, a special court in Bengaluru sentenced Prajwal Revanna, former Member of Parliament from Hassan, to life imprisonment for the rape of a 47-year-old domestic worker. The ruling, delivered by Judge Santosh Gajanan Bhat of the designated court for trials involving elected representatives, found Revanna guilty under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 376(2)(k) and 376(2)(n), which deal with rape by a person in a position of authority and repeated rape. Additional charges included disrobing (Section 354B), voyeurism (354C), criminal intimidation (506), and transmission of private images under Section 66E of the Information Technology Act. The court imposed a cumulative fine of ₹11.3 lakh, much of it to be paid as compensation to the survivor.

Revanna appeared in court and pleaded for leniency. He spoke first in English, then in Kannada, saying that he had not seen his parents in six months and describing the case as politically timed to sabotage his 2024 Lok Sabha campaign. “The complaint was filed just six days before the elections,” he said. The court did not accept his plea. Special Public Prosecutor BN Jagadeesh argued that Revanna had not only raped the woman multiple times but had recorded the assaults without consent and used the footage to intimidate her. Jagadeesh told the court that the survivor had attempted suicide after the videos began to circulate. Additional Prosecutor Ashok Nayak described the acts as a gross abuse of authority, pointing out that the accused had committed the crime in a government facility allotted to him as an MP.

One of the most significant developments in the case was the use of forensic superimposition to match Revanna’s body features—such as skin pigmentation, moles, and anatomical markers—with those visible in the video footage, despite his face being concealed. The court acknowledged this scientific evidence as pivotal—a first in the state, with the judge calling it a welcome advance in evidentiary practice.

From the filing of the FIR in May 2024 to sentencing in August 2025, the case concluded in just over 14 months—exceptionally fast by the standards of India’s criminal justice system. In Delhi, rape trials in fast-track courts take on average over 1,500 days. In Karnataka, the average is closer to 900 days. Legal observers cited this case as an anomaly: a high-profile, politically sensitive trial concluded in a relatively short period without procedural derailment.

Revanna, 34 at the time of sentencing, is the grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and the nephew of Union Minister Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy. He was first elected to Parliament in 2019 as a Janata Dal (Secular) candidate. In April 2024, shortly after being nominated again by the BJP-led NDA, Revanna fled to Germany amid allegations that he had sexually assaulted multiple women and filmed the acts. The Karnataka SIT initiated a probe. An Interpol Blue Corner notice was issued. Revanna returned in May 2024 following diplomatic and legal negotiations involving the Ministry of External Affairs and central investigative agencies.

Following his sentencing, Revanna was sent to Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, where he was registered as prisoner number 15528. Jail officials told the press that he was emotionally distressed and under medical watch. His privileges as a former MP were revoked. He now qualifies for ₹540 per week in prison wages if he chooses to work, in accordance with Karnataka’s prison labour policy.

Political reactions were brief and measured. Nikhil Kumaraswamy, president of the JD(S) youth wing and Revanna’s cousin, said, “The court has given its verdict. I cannot say more.” Congress leaders called for public statements from Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy. BJP’s Pralhad Joshi said that while the judiciary had spoken, Revanna was entitled to appeal.

This sentencing pertains to the first of four cases filed against Revanna. Three more complaints of rape and sexual assault are under investigation by the Special Investigation Team set up in April 2024. The SIT has stated that it continues to collect evidence and interview witnesses. Revanna’s legal team is expected to challenge the life sentence in the High Court, but as of now, the judgment stands as a rare instance of judicial finality involving a sitting MP from a powerful political family.

In a system often slow to act, especially when influence and dynasty are involved, the court’s decision is a moment of institutional resolve. The judgment is not just a sentence against an individual. It signals a possibility: that even in the presence of political power, the law can still be enforced.

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