Prajwal Revanna Convicted of Rape in Bengaluru Court
Shockwaves hit Karnataka’s political landscape as Prajwal Revanna—a former Member of Parliament from Hassan and the grandson of ex-Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda—was convicted on August 2, 2025, in a sensational rape case. The court found him guilty of raping a 47-year-old domestic worker. He broke down in the courtroom as the judge read out serious charges: rape, sexual harassment, voyeurism, tampering with evidence, and violating the IT Act.
The case against Revanna isn’t a one-off. Authorities charged him after the police recovered more than 2,000 disturbing videos in April 2024—most of them allegedly showing sexual abuse of several women. Those videos circulated online at the height of the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign, sparking public outrage and massive media coverage. Many in Hassan, his home turf, watched as his career unraveled.
Multiple Survivors and Explosive Evidence
Revanna, who was a rising star in the Janata Dal (Secular) or JD(S), is now at the center of at least three more criminal cases. Police say he repeatedly raped a 44-year-old former Hassan Zilla Panchayat member, assaulted a 60-year-old domestic worker from Mysuru, and harassed another woman over video calls.
Investigators didn’t just rely on testimony. They matched physical evidence—a mole on his left middle finger, plus a scar on his left hand—to features seen in the videos and survivor statements. Forensic tests reportedly played a central role in convincing the special court of his guilt.
The survivor in the main case was rescued from a farmhouse owned by Revanna’s family. According to police, she had been abducted and intimidated, allegedly to keep her silent. This incident added a new layer of shock and helped move the court case forward rapidly.
Things turned political fast. After his arrest, the JD(S) reacted decisively. Revanna, who already lost his seat in the last national election, faced immediate suspension from the party. Observers say the episode has become a big embarrassment for the Deve Gowda family. Local leaders are anxious about the party’s image and its future in Hassan, a stronghold for decades.
Before his arrest, Revanna attempted to flee to Germany. But authorities tracked him down, and extradition procedures brought him back in time for trial. The speed at which the case came to court—just eight weeks from the start of the hearings—reflects mounting public and legal pressure.
Now, all eyes are on the special court’s judge, Santosh Gajanana Bhat, who will deliver Revanna’s sentence later today. Whatever the decision, the Prajwal Revanna case has already rattled politicians and community leaders in Karnataka. Residents in Hassan, once loyal to the JD(S), are demanding stricter action and are vocal about the need for greater accountability regardless of power or family name.