A special court in Bengaluru also slapped a fine of ₹10 lakh on him, of which ₹7 lakh must be given to the survivor.
Published Aug 02, 2025 | 4:50 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 03, 2025 | 8:41 AM
Prajwal Revanna.
Synopsis: Prajwal Revanna sexually harassed the survivor (who worked as a maid at his family farmhouse) in the first-floor hall of his house at Holenarsipura in 2020, when no others were present. He allegedly harassed her over the phone as well.
A Special Court in Bengaluru has sentenced former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna to life imprisonment in the farmhouse rape case registered against him at the Holenarasipura Rural Police Station.
A fine of ₹10 lakh, too, has been imposed on him, of which ₹7 lakh must be given to the survivor.
The quantum of sentence pronounced on Saturday, 2 August, was in the first of the four rape and sexual harassment cases against the former MP. The court had found him guilty on 1 August. He has been awarded the maximum punishment under 376(2)(n) of the Indian Penal Code.
Making the final arguments on 2 August, Special Public Prosecutor BN Jagadish said that Prajwal is an “addict” who repeatedly raped an illiterate woman.
“When the videos captured during the rape went viral, the victim suffered mental torture and even attempted suicide. Prajwal has made many obscene videos of women. Therefore, a message should be sent to society by giving a severe punishment to Prajwal,” he said, according to a report by Bar and Bench.
The lawyer also pointed out that Prajwal did not express remorse for his act. “Despite the victim’s repeated pleas, he raped her and made a video of her. This is a reflection of Prajwal’s perverted mentality,” the lawyer said.
Meanwhile, Special Public Prosecutor Ashok Nayak called for a heavy fine and severe punishment for Prajwal. “The act committed by Prajwal, who was elected as an MP at a very young age, is despicable…The court should take this seriously,” he added.
The former Hassan MP became emotional during the sentencing and argued that he was a meritorious student and a mechanical engineering graduate.
“I once served as a Member of Parliament. During my time as an MP, no one accused me of rape. But now, during the elections, these allegations have surfaced. I performed well as an MP. I haven’t seen my parents in six months. I am a Mechanical Engineering graduate and a merit student. I rose quickly in politics, and that seems to have become my downfall,” he reportedly said.
Arguing on behalf of Prajwal, Senior Advocate Nalina Mayegowda said Prajwal’s work as an MP should not be discounted. “Prajwal has been in jail for the past one year and four months. Prajwal, who is still young, should not be given a punishment that will ruin his life. The culprit has suffered more than the victim. This ruse has been hatched to ruin Prajwal’s political future,” she said.
According to the 1,625-page-long chargesheet filed on 14 September 2024, Prajwal sexually harassed the survivor (who worked as a maid at his family farmhouse) in the first-floor hall of his house at Holenarsipura in 2020, when no others were present. He allegedly harassed her over the phone as well.
The same year, Prajwal allegedly took several workers, including the woman (witness-1), to clean his Basavanagudi house in Bengaluru. He then pulled her inside the bedroom on the west side of the first floor where she was working, locked the room, and demanded an oil massage. He also allegedly threatened to kill her if she did not heed his demand.
Prajwal ignored the woman’s pleas and thwarted her attempts to escape. He also recorded the obscene act on the mobile phone and threatened to jail her husband if she disclosed the incident to anyone, the chargesheet said.
Prajwal has been charged under Sections 376(2)(k) (rape by a person in a position of dominance), 376(2)(n) (repeated rape), 354(A) (sexual harassment), 354(B) (assault or use of force with intent to disrobe), 354(C) (voyeurism), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) and Section 66(e) of the Information Technology Act.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
