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In a significant and highly-publicized development, a special court in Bengaluru has sentenced former Janata Dal (Secular) MP, Prajwal Revanna, to life imprisonment after convicting him in one of the four rape cases registered against him. The verdict brings a measure of justice to one of the women who came forward in a scandal that has shocked the nation and had immense political fallout.
Latest Updates: Conviction and Sentencing
On Saturday, a special court for elected representatives in Bengaluru delivered the sentence, finding Prajwal Revanna guilty of raping a 47-year-old woman who worked as a domestic help for his family. The court also imposed a substantial fine, with a portion of the amount designated as compensation for the victim. This conviction comes after a swift trial that began just weeks ago.
During the sentencing hearing, Prajwal Revanna, the grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, reportedly broke down in court. He pleaded for a lesser punishment, claiming that his “only mistake” was growing too fast in politics and that the allegations were politically motivated.
The Foundation of the Conviction: Digital and Forensic Evidence
The conviction in this case was secured through a combination of powerful evidence, marking a significant win for the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the prosecution. Key evidence included:
- Victim’s Testimony: The unwavering and consistent testimony of the survivor was a central piece of the prosecution’s case.
- Digital Evidence: The accused had allegedly recorded the crime on his mobile phone. The SIT successfully used forensic analysis to prove that the video was shot on a device in his possession.
- Forensic Matching: Even though the accused’s face was not visible in the video, investigators matched marks on his body parts to those seen in the footage. They also matched his voice to the audio in the video.
- Location Evidence: The police were able to match the background of the video to the rooms in his family’s farm and Bengaluru residence, providing further irrefutable proof.
The Scandal’s Political Fallout
The Prajwal Revanna case, which emerged with the circulation of explicit videos just before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, quickly spiraled into a national political scandal. Revanna, who was the incumbent MP from Hassan, fled the country but was arrested by the SIT upon his return. He lost his seat in the elections and was suspended from the JD(S) party. The scandal also implicated his family members, with his father, H.D. Revanna, and his mother, Bhavani Revanna, also facing charges related to sexual harassment and the alleged abduction of a survivor.
While he has been convicted in one case, Prajwal Revanna still faces trial in three other similar cases, ensuring that the legal and political repercussions of this scandal will continue to be a major topic in the nation’s discourse for some time.
