A Special Court for People's Representatives in Bengaluru convicted former Janata Dal (Secular) MP Prajwal Revanna on Friday in a high-profile rape and sexual abuse case, delivering a significant verdict in the first of four cases against him. The case, lodged at Holenarasipura Rural Police Station in Hassan district, centers on the alleged rape of a 48-year-old woman who worked as a domestic help at Revanna’s family farmhouse in Gannikada, Holenarasipura, in 2021.

The court found that Revanna raped the victim twice and recorded the acts on his mobile phone. The trial concluded on July 18, with the court reserving its judgment until today. The sentencing is scheduled for August 2.

Revanna, the grandson of former Prime Minister and JD(S) patriarch HD Deve Gowda, faces additional charges of rape and sexual harassment in three other cases. The allegations gained public attention when pen drives containing explicit videos allegedly involving Revanna were circulated in Hassan ahead of the April 26, 2024, Lok Sabha elections. The controversy led to his suspension from JD(S) and his electoral defeat in the Hassan parliamentary constituency.

Revanna was arrested by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on May 31, 2024, upon his arrival at Bengaluru Airport from Germany, where he had reportedly fled following the scandal. The SIT continues to investigate the remaining cases, as the conviction intensifies scrutiny on the former MP’s actions.

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