Former Janata Dal (Secular) MP and rape accused Prajwal Revanna’s trial begins today in the Bengaluru court.
Prajwal (34), grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, is facing multiple charges, including rape, sexual harassment, criminal intimidation, and illegal confinement, after explicit videos allegedly recorded by him surfaced ahead of his contest in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
The charge-sheet was filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) last year and the trial will begin at the additional city civil and session court in Bengaluru on Friday.
Prajwal is accused of repeatedly raping a domestic worker employed at his family's farmhouse in Holenarasipura. The assaults allegedly began in 2021 and continued across various locations. The victim claims she was confined, assaulted multiple times, recorded without consent, and was threatened to prevent her from speaking out. The SIT has framed charges under Section 376 (2)(k) - rape by a person in a position of authority.
Prajwal, who had fled to Germany on April 27, 2024, soon after the voting for Lok Sabha polls, was arrested upon his return to Bengaluru on May 31, 2024. He has been in custody since, with multiple bail pleas denied by the trial court, the High Court, and the Supreme Court.
Special Public Prosecutor Ashok Naik has accused Revanna of employing “delay tactics”, including changing legal counsel, to postpone the trial. The court warned that if he failed to appoint a new advocate promptly, an amicus curiae would be assigned to ensure the trial proceeds without further delay.
Meanwhile, Prajwal’s parents - JD(S) MLA from Holenarsipura, H.D. Revanna and mother Bhavani Revanna, are also entangled in legal proceedings connected to the sexual assault case. Revanna, who was arrested last May for allegedly kidnapping a domestic worker (who had accused Prajwal of sexual assault) is charged with sexual harassment by SIT which has submitted a charge-sheet. Bhavani is accused of conspiring to abduct a woman (victim) to prevent her from filing a complaint. However, the couple have been granted conditional bail. Bhavani has been restricted by the court from visiting Mysuru and Hassan districts and from influencing victims or witnesses.
Prajwal, who had won the Hassan seat in the 2019 Parliament polls on a JDS ticket, contested as the NDA candidate in 2024 after the BJP-JDS alliance. However, he lost the seat to Congress candidate Shreyas M. Patel.
Timeline of Events in Prajwal Revanna Case
April 26, 2024: Multiple videos allegedly depicting sexual assaults by Prajwal Revanna surface in Hassan district, Karnataka.
April 27, 2024: The Karnataka government establishes a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations.
April 28, 2024: Reports emerge that Prajwal Revanna has fled to Germany using his diplomatic passport without obtaining the necessary political clearance.
April 30, 2024: The Janata Dal (Secular) suspends Prajwal Revanna pending the outcome of the SIT investigation.
May 5, 2024: A woman, allegedly confined in a farmhouse near Mysuru, is rescued.
May 8, 2024: The rescued woman files a complaint accusing Revanna of rape and unlawful confinement.
May 31, 2024: Prajwal Revanna is arrested upon arrival at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru and remanded to SIT custody.
June 6, 2024: Revanna’s police custody is extended until June 10, 2024.
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April 3, 2025: A Bengaluru court frames charges against Revanna under IPC Section 376(2)(k) for rape committed while being in a position of control or dominance, along with charges of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation.
April 22, 2025: Charges are framed in a second rape case involving a former Hassan Zilla Panchayat member.
April 23, 2025: The trial in the first rape case is scheduled to begin but is stalled due to a plea for a change of judge and the retirement of Revanna’s defense counsel.
April 28, 2025: Special Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat directs Revanna to appoint a new advocate by the next day, warning that an amicus curiae will be appointed if he fails.
May 2, 2025: The trial is scheduled to commence.
