Bengaluru: Former Hassan MP takes up clerical work as part of prison labour programme
Former Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, currently serving a life sentence in a rape case, has been assigned duties as a library clerk inside Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, Bengaluru. A member of the powerful Gowda political family in Karnataka, Revanna now spends his time issuing books to fellow inmates and maintaining borrowing records under the prison’s mandatory labour programme for convicts.
Assigned library work in jail
Prison officials confirmed that Revanna expressed interest in administrative work. After assessing his skills and matching them with the prison’s requirements, authorities placed him in the library section.
His duties include cataloguing books, issuing them to inmates, and tracking returns. For this work, he is entitled to earn Rs 522 per day, provided he completes the prescribed tasks.
“Inmates serving life terms are required to engage in prison labour. Work assignments depend on their skills and willingness. Revanna has already completed a day of library duty,” a jail official said.
Typically, prisoners are required to work at least 12 days a month, often three days a week. However, given Revanna’s frequent court appearances and legal consultations, his schedule so far has been lighter.
Background: Conviction in rape case
Revanna, grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and son of JD(S) leader H.D. Revanna, was convicted in May 2025 by a special court in one of several rape and sexual assault cases against him.
Once considered a rising star of the Janata Dal (Secular), Revanna’s political career collapsed after multiple women, including staffers and political aides, accused him of rape, sexual assault, and criminal intimidation. The cases drew nationwide attention after explicit videos allegedly involving him surfaced online in early 2024, sparking public outrage and political uproar in Karnataka.
SIT probe and arrest
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the allegations gathered substantial digital and testimonial evidence, which proved crucial in securing his conviction. Revanna was declared an absconder for over a month before being tracked down, arrested, and remanded to judicial custody.
Political fallout
The scandal dealt a heavy blow to the JD(S), which was forced to distance itself from Revanna amid mounting public anger. The case also reignited debates about political accountability, abuse of power, and the protection of women in political spaces.
Conclusion
With his conviction and imprisonment, Revanna’s trajectory from a promising politician to a convicted felon underscores the severity of the charges he faced. While his present role in the prison library reflects the system of rehabilitation through labour, the broader case continues to resonate in Karnataka’s political and social discourse.