Politician Prajwal Revanna Convicted to Life Imprisonment for Sexually Assaulting Domestic Staff
In a landmark ruling, Prajwal Revanna, the former Janata Dal (Secular) MP and grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for rape by a Bengaluru court in 2025.
The conviction came in one of four sexual abuse and rape cases against Revanna. The court imposed life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 5 lakh under sections 376(2)(k) and 376(2)(n) of the Indian Penal Code, which deal with aggravated rape offenses.
The rape occurred at the Revanna family's farmhouse in Hassan district's Holenarasipura. Revanna was also charged with circulating videos of the sexual assault. A term of three years has been imposed under a section of the IT Act for circulating the videos.
The court has also imposed terms of between two and seven years under five other sections of the Indian Penal Code, including those related to sexual harassment, criminal intimidation, destruction of evidence, and violation of privacy under the IT Act, with corresponding fines.
During the sentencing, Revanna appeared visibly distressed and broke down in court, pleading for mercy and highlighting his status as a young, educated man who had been rising fast in politics. His legal team argued the charges were politically motivated, especially given the timing near elections. However, the court imposed harsh penalties, reinforcing the principle that no individual is above the law.
The case has had significant impact on Indian politics given Revanna's prominent political lineage and position. His conviction and imprisonment mark a notable downfall from power, affecting the JD(S) party’s image and raising discussions about political accountability and the handling of sexual abuse allegations against influential figures.
The woman, the victim, had alleged that she was raped repeatedly by Revanna since 2021. The videos showing the sexual assaults had begun circulating after Revanna's seat went to polls on April 26, 2022. Revanna lost the elections and was arrested in May 2022 after returning from Germany, where he had fled shortly after the videos emerged.
Prajwal has reportedly challenged the conviction in the High Court, indicating ongoing legal proceedings. The court's decision serves as a reminder that justice will be served regardless of one's political status or influence.
[1] The Hindu, "Prajwal Revanna sentenced to life term in rape case", 2025 [2] The Times of India, "Prajwal Revanna challenges rape conviction in High Court", 2025 [3] The Indian Express, "Prajwal Revanna's conviction: A setback for JD(S) party and a call for political accountability", 2025 [4] NDTV, "Prajwal Revanna sentenced to life imprisonment for rape", 2025
- The conviction of Prajwal Revanna, a former politician, not only involved aggravated rape offenses under Indian Penal Code sections 376(2)(k) and 376(2)(n), but also included charges related to sexual harassment, criminal intimidation, destruction of evidence, violation of privacy, and circulating videos under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the IT Act.
- Amidst a wave of general news about the sentencing, health-and-wellness, and crime-and-justice issues continue to dominate as the political fallout of Revanna's conviction and imprisonment affects the JD(S) party's image and raises discussions about political accountability and the handling of such allegations against influential figures.
- Despite his political status as a grandson of a former Prime Minister and his pleas for mercy, the court reinforced the importance of holding all individuals accountable for their actions and imposed life imprisonment along with a hefty fine on Revanna for his rape convictions.
