Prajwal Revanna, serving life term in rape case, found with smartphone in jail

Former Janata Dal (Secular) MP Prajwal Revanna, who is serving a life sentence in a rape case, was found in possession of an Android mobile phone during a Central Crime Branch (CCB) raid at Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara Central Prison on Tuesday, in a major security lapse.

Revanna is the son of JD(S) MLA H.D. Revanna and grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda.

Director General of Police (Prisons and Correctional Services) Alok Kumar said the CCB conducted a four- to five-hour raid targeting high-profile prisoners at the prison.

“Yesterday afternoon, a raid was conducted by CCB on all the high-profile prisoners. An Android phone has been seized from Prajwal Revanna’s possession,” Kumar was quoted as saying by ANI.

Another inmate, identified as Prathap Rai, was also found in possession of a mobile phone during the search.

Following the incident, Assistant Superintendent Shri Iranna Rangapur was suspended based on a report by the DIG (South) for alleged dereliction of duty. A show-cause notice has also been issued to the Superintendent of Bengaluru Central Prison.

Kumar said no other contraband was found during the four- to five-hour search of high-profile and other inmates in the high-security prison on August 11.

“CCB has lodged the complaint with Parappana Agrahara Police Station, and registration of an FIR is in progress,” he said.

Revanna represented Hassan in the Lok Sabha from 2019 to 2024. He was arrested in May 2024 in connection with sexual assault cases and was subsequently convicted in a rape case.

In August 2025, a special court in Bengaluru sentenced him to life imprisonment, following which he was lodged in Parappana Agrahara Central Prison.