A special court designated for cases involving elected representatives on Friday convicted Prajwal Revanna, former Member of Parliament from Hassan and grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Devegowda, in a rape case involving a 47-year-old domestic worker. The court found him guilty in one of four rape cases registered against him.
The quantum of punishment will be pronounced on Saturday, the court stated.
Earlier this year, the court had framed charges under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including:
376(2)(k) – rape by a person in a position of control or trust,
376(2)(n) – repeated rape of the same victim,
354A – sexual harassment,
354B – assault with intent to disrobe,
354C – voyeurism,
506 – criminal intimidation,
201 – destruction of evidence, as well as Section 66E of the Information Technology Act, which pertains to violation of privacy.
Special Public Prosecutor Ashok Nayak confirmed that the trial, which began on May 2, involved 26 witnesses, 180 documents, and 38 hearings including cross-examinations and final arguments.
Revanna, a high-profile political figure, had been under intense scrutiny since the allegations first surfaced. This verdict marks a significant step forward in the pursuit of justice in cases involving sexual assault by powerful individuals.