A Bengaluru courtroom on Saturday sentenced former Janata Dal (Secular) MP and grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, Prajwal Revanna, to life imprisonment in a rape case.
The Particular Court docket for MPs/MLAs on Friday convicted Prajwal of raping a 48-year-old girl who was employed as a home employee at his household’s Hassan farmhouse. Prajwal has been booked in two extra circumstances of rape and considered one of sexual harassment.The rulings in these circumstances are awaited.
The courtroom additionally fined him ₹11.50 lakh, and stated ₹11.25 lakh out of will probably be paid to the sufferer, individuals conscious of the matter stated. “The courtroom has sentenced Prajwal Revanna to life imprisonment. The prosecution had invoked varied stringent sections, and for all sections, the courtroom has sentenced separate punishments and fines,” particular public prosecutor Ashok Nayak stated. An in depth courtroom order on the sentencing was awaited.
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The complainant alleged that Prajwal raped her twice between 2021 and 2024 and recorded the assault on his cellphone. She lodged an FIR on April 28 final 12 months, days after obscene movies allegedly displaying Prajwal sexually abusing a number of girls surfaced in the course of the Lok Sabha elections. He fled to Germany the identical month and was arrested on Could 31, 2024, after his arrival. Prajwal, who was the NDA candidate from the Hassan seat, misplaced the election.
“Our argument targeted on the atrocities dedicated by a robust man on an harmless girl and the social stigma she needed to endure,” extra particular public prosecutor Ashok Nayak stated.
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Prajwal’s counsel, advocate Arun G, stated they’ll problem the order within the excessive courtroom. Folks current within the courtroom stated Prajwal broke down in the course of the listening to on Saturday and stated that the circumstances towards him have been politically motivated.
“The one mistake I made in my life is rising quick in politics. They are saying that I’ve raped a number of girls, however not one of the girls have come out voluntarily to complain. )…the prosecution facet introduced them purposefully and made them file a grievance,” information company PTI quoted him as saying.
In accordance with the company, Prajwal informed the courtroom that he was a “BE mechanical graduate and at all times handed on benefit” as he urged the choose to offer him a lesser sentence. “I’ve a household; I’ve not seen my mom and father for six months now…please give me a lesser sentence,” he was quoted as saying.
His counsel, senior advocate Nalina Mayegowda, urged the courtroom to be lenient with him, saying that “he has been concerned in varied charitable actions for years” and the proceedings had precipitated “irreparable injury to his popularity.”
The Particular Investigation Workforce (SIT), which probed the case, had filed a 1,632-page cost sheet with 113 witnesses within the case in September 2024.
Revanna was booked underneath sections 376(2)(ok) (being ready of management or dominance over a girl, commits rape on such girl), 376 (2)(n) (repeated rape on the identical girl), 354A (sexual harassment), 354B (assault or use of prison drive to girl with intent to disrobe), 354C (voyeurism), 506 (prison intimidation) and 201 (disappearance of proof) of the IPC, and Part 66E (violation of privateness) of the IT Act.
Officers a part of the SIT stated they have been hopeful of getting stringent punishment within the different circumstances additionally.
“We’re very optimistic about different circumstances as effectively. Roughly all of the circumstances have been investigated on the identical strains. The visuals which emerged and the best way the victims have been handled, raped and sexually harassed all the things was roughly on related strains,” senior IPS officer Suman D Pennekar stated.
Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar questioned the “silence” of leaders from JD(S) and its alliance associate BJP on the sentencing.
“If we (Congress) converse on the problem, will probably be seen as politics. Let JD(S) state president [HD Kumaraswamy], nationwide president (HD Deve Gowda), youth president (Nikhil Kumaraswamy), BJP president (BY Vijayendra), opposition chief (R Ashoka) and central ministers—all of them ought to touch upon this. Why are they not commenting?” he stated.
Union minister and senior BJP chief Pralhad Joshi stated the courtroom would have given the decision contemplating all facets, and it ought to be revered.
“Everybody ought to settle for the courtroom order. We had stated when the allegations got here to gentle that, if the improper was dedicated, punishment would occur in accordance with the legislation after investigation and trial,” he stated.
(With PTI inputs)
