Sexual harassment case:The Karnataka High Court on Monday rejected three bail pleas filed by former Janata Dal (Secular) MP from Hassan constituency, Prajwal Revanna (33), accused of rape. The former MP had sought bail in three rape cases, in which chargesheets have been filed by the Special Investigation Team of the police in the last two months. The High Court had reserved its order on the bail petitions on September 19. On Monday, a bench headed by Justice M Nagaprasanna rejected the petitions.
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Bail plea of former JDS MP Prajwal Revanna rejected in rape cases
The Karnataka High Court on Monday (October 21) rejected the bail plea of former Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) MP Prajwal Revanna in a rape and sexual assault case. Justice Nagaprasanna’s court hearing the case had reserved its verdict on the matter a month ago. There are three cases of sexual assault and rape registered against Revanna.
Karnataka High Court reserved the verdict on September 19
Earlier on September 19, the Karnataka High Court had reserved its decision on the bail plea of the former MP. A single bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna heard arguments on Revanna’s plea in the first case and two anticipatory bail pleas related to the latter’s complaints.
During the hearing, the court directed the lawyers to avoid mentioning the names of the victims and instead narrate specific details in the case documents.
Background and arrest
The 33-year-old politician, who lost his bid to retain Hassan parliamentary constituency in June, was arrested by SIT sleuths on May 31 upon his return from Germany. He left for Germany on April 27, a day after voting in Hassan. A special court for elected representatives issued an arrest warrant against Prajwal on May 18 following an application filed by the SIT.
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Earlier, a ‘Blue Corner Notice’ was issued by Interpol on the request of the SIT through the Central Bureau of Investigation, seeking information about Revanna’s whereabouts. Their arrests are related to cases registered on April 28 at Holenarsipura in Hassan district, involving allegations of sexual harassment and rape of a former maid.
Cases of sexual exploitation came to light when pen-drives containing explicit videos allegedly belonging to Prajwal were circulated ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in Hassan on 26 April. JD(S) suspended him from the party following the cases registered against him.
As the investigation continues, the judiciary and law enforcement agencies are expected to pursue the case diligently to ascertain the facts and uphold justice in the light of the serious allegations against the former MP.
Prajwal’s brother JD(S) MLC Suraj Revanna was also arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in a case of forced unnatural sex lodged by JD(S) male workers. His father HD Revanna, a JD(S) MLA, was sent to jail and released on conditional bail. Mother Bhavani Revanna is also out on conditional bail in the kidnapping case related to the sex video scandal.
Cases against Prajwal Revanna
In the first case registered against him at Holenarasipura Town police station in Hassan on April 28, Revanna is accused of sexually assaulting a 47-year-old former maid. He has been listed as accused number two, while his father and local MLA, HD Revanna, is the main accused.
The second case against Prajwal Revanna was registered by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on May 1 after a 44-year-old former Hassan district panchayat member accused him of repeatedly raping her.
The third case pertains to the rape of a 60-year-old woman from K R Nagara in Mysore, who was also a domestic help. The victim’s son had filed a kidnapping case at KR Nagar police station on May 2, accusing him of kidnapping his mother. In this kidnapping case, the SIT had arrested HD Revanna, who is currently out on bail, and interrogated Prajwal’s mother Bhavani Revanna, who has been granted anticipatory bail.
The fourth case against Prajwal Revanna was registered on June 12 at the CID cyber crime police station in Bengaluru, accusing him of sexual harassment. In this case, he has been booked for sexual harassment, stalking and criminal intimidation and breach of privacy under the IT Act. The complainant in this case is a woman, who was allegedly sexually harassed through video call.