The bench further said that the High Court can be approached seeking expunction of the remarks made.
Published Dec 11, 2025 | 3:36 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 11, 2025 | 3:36 PM
Prajwal Revanna.
Synopsis: Revanna had raised concerns that the trial judge was likely to be biased against him since the same judge had earlier convicted him in another rape case. Senior Advocates Siddharth Luthra and Siddarth Dave, who were appearing for Revanna, argued that that the judge made adverse comments against the lawyers too.
Supreme Court on Thursday, 11 December, rejected a plea filed by former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna to transfer his trial in two pending rape cases from a Special MP/MLA Court at Bengaluru to some other court.
Revanna had raised concerns that the trial judge was likely to be biased against him since the same judge had earlier convicted him in another rape case. Senior Advocates Siddharth Luthra and Siddarth Dave, who were appearing for Revanna, argued that that the judge made adverse comments against the lawyers too.
“These observations of the presiding officer cannot be the ground of bias. We have no reason to doubt that the officer would not be swayed by the fact that the petitioner was found guilty in the earlier case…and will confine his conclusions on the basis of evidence led in the pending trial,” the bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed.
The bench further said that the High Court can be approached seeking expunction of the remarks made.
According to Livelaw, the Trial court at Bengaluru had rejected his plea seeking transfer on the ground that it was the special MP/MLA court which was specially designated to try offences against elected representatives. The High Court also endorsed this reasoning.
In August, a Special Court in Bengaluru has sentenced 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 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.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Anisha Reddy)
