On 1 August 2025, a special court in Bengaluru convicted Prajwal Revanna, former MP from Hassan and grandson of ex‑PM H.D. Deve Gowda, in a rape case involving a 47-year-old domestic worker. This is one among four separate rape cases filed against him earlier. The judge reserved quantum of punishment to be announced on 2 August 2025.
Allegations & Case Background
In 2024, multiple sexual assault and rape allegations surfaced against Prajwal Revanna, with leaked videos that reportedly showed him abusing women and recording the acts. Thousands of pen drives with such content circulated in Hassan ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Following the scandal, Revanna fled to Germany using a diplomatic passport but was arrested on 31 May 2024 upon his return to Bengaluru. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed, and charges were formally framed by the court in April 2025 under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code and IT Act.
Swift Trial & Conviction
One of the rape cases—filed by a domestic help from Holenarasipura—was tried as a fast‑track case. The court examined 26 witnesses and reviewed technical evidences such as mobile metadata, Google Maps data, and forensic reports. Verdict was reserved on 30 July 2025 and delivered on 1 August 2025, after a 14‑month trial period.
Court Reaction & Public Impact
The court proceedings were reportedly emotional: Revanna broke down and wept shortly after conviction was declared. Legal experts and public watchers described the case as one of the most high‑profile political rape convictions in recent Indian history.
What Next?
Sentencing will be announced on 2 August 2025 by Judge Santosh Gajanana Bhat, who found him guilty in the case involving the domestic help at the family’s vineyard farmhouse in Hassan district. Revanna remains in judicial custody awaiting the quantum of punishment. He still faces three other rape cases pending in courts. Appeals filed by his defence, including bail pleas, have been rejected by multiple courts, including trial court, Karnataka High Court, and the Supreme Court.