BENGALURU: Former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna has filed a criminal appeal in the Karnataka high court, seeking to overturn his conviction and life sentence delivered by a special court in Bengaluru on August 2. The conviction was related to charges of repeatedly raping his domestic help and recording videos of the acts between January 1, 2021, and January 31, 2022.
Revanna, who represented the Hassan parliamentary constituency, was sentenced under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Information Technology Act. The special court held him guilty of sexual assault, criminal intimidation, and using electronic means to record and retain videos without consent.
Grounds of appeal
In his petition, Revanna has argued that there were “serious contradictions” between the survivor’s complaint and her subsequent testimony in court. He alleged that the complaint was filed under police pressure and claimed that the prosecution’s case was riddled with inconsistencies.
Revanna further challenged the reliability of some pieces of evidence presented in court, particularly forensic material. He disputed the prosecution’s reliance on stains allegedly found on a bed years after the incidents, arguing that such evidence was unreliable given the time gap.
His appeal also raised questions on procedural lapses during the investigation, alleging that due process was not followed when collecting and analysing digital evidence, including video recordings.
Special court verdict
On August 2, the special court convicted Revanna after months of hearings. The court found that the prosecution had produced adequate evidence to prove that Revanna had repeatedly assaulted the survivor at his residence in Holenarasipur and at a rented house in Banashankari, Bengaluru.
The judgment had relied significantly on the survivor’s testimony, corroborated by digital evidence, including explicit videos that the court concluded were recorded by the former MP himself.
Revanna was handed a life sentence, a fine, and additional punishments under provisions related to sexual assault and cybercrimes.
Political and public reaction
The conviction of Revanna, who comes from the politically influential Gowda family in Karnataka, triggered sharp responses across the state’s political spectrum. Opposition leaders welcomed the verdict, calling it a step towards accountability, while his supporters alleged a political conspiracy.
With the filing of the appeal, the case has once again entered the spotlight, as it will now be scrutinised by the Karnataka high court.
What lies ahead
Legal experts point out that appeals in such high-profile cases typically involve re-examination of witness statements, forensic evidence, and adherence to procedural law. While the high court may consider his claims of contradictions and alleged lapses, overturning a conviction based on the survivor’s testimony and corroborating evidence remains a challenging task.
The Karnataka high court is expected to hear preliminary arguments on the maintainability of the appeal before scheduling detailed hearings. Until then, Revanna remains convicted under the lower court’s judgment, though his legal team hopes to secure relief.