A local court in Bengaluru has formally framed charges against former Janata Dal (Secular) MP Prajwal Revanna in connection with a high-profile rape case. On Saturday, Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat ruled that there was sufficient material to proceed with the trial, as Revanna faces serious allegations under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology (IT) Act.
The charges against Revanna include 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). Additionally, Revanna has been charged under Section 66(e) of the IT Act for violating the victim’s privacy, allegedly by circulating intimate videos without her consent.
The case stems from allegations made by a woman who worked as a maid at a farmhouse owned by the Revanna family. She claims that from 2021, during the COVID-19 lockdown, Revanna repeatedly raped her and filmed the assaults. The woman alleges that Revanna used the videos to intimidate and silence her, preventing her from coming forward sooner. She remained silent until reports surfaced of leaked sexual assault videos. Investigations revealed that over 2,900 videos, involving multiple women, had been circulated on social media platforms, prompting her to file a formal complaint.
Revanna, who fled to Germany amid public outcry following the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka, was arrested upon his return to India on May 31, 2024. He has been in judicial custody since then. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the case submitted a detailed chargesheet in August 2024, which included four volumes of evidence and forensically verified video material.
Despite the strong evidence, Revanna's legal team filed a discharge petition, arguing that the evidence was insufficient and that the accusations were politically motivated. They also questioned the delay in reporting the alleged crimes. In response, the SIT emphasized that the delay was due to intimidation and fear of public shaming, and reaffirmed the authenticity of the video evidence.
The trial is set to proceed to the trial phase, with the next hearing scheduled for April 9, 2025. This case is one of four sexual assault allegations currently pending against Revanna, all of which have stirred significant political and public outrage across Karnataka.
The charges against Revanna have drawn widespread attention, with many political figures and activists calling for justice and accountability. The outcome of this case is likely to have major political ramifications as it continues to unfold in the coming weeks.
