Former PM’s grandson sentenced to life imprisonment for rape

Prajwal Revanna, grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and former JD(S) MP representing Hassan, was sentenced to life imprisonment by Bengaluru Special Court in a rape case on August 2.

A Special Court in Bengaluru pronounced the quantum of sentence after convicting the 34-year-old Prajwal in one of the four sexual abuse and rape cases registered against him, on August 1.

Awaiting sentencing on August 2, the suspended JD(S) leader sought lesser punishment, claiming he did nothing wrong and that his only mistake was his ‘fast’ growth in politics.

Prajwal broke down in court as he appealed to the judge for lesser punishment. He told the court that he is a BE (Mechanical) graduate, and has always passed on merit.

“…they say that I have raped multiple women, but none of the women have come out voluntarily to complain. They came six days prior to election (Lok Sabha polls 2024)…the prosecution side brought them purposefully and made them give a complaint,” Prajwal told the court.

Pointing out that the woman (victim) had not complained to anyone, including her husband or kin, about the alleged rape, he said that ‘she comes and gives a complaint when certain videos were circulated’.

Stating that he will bow down to the court’s conviction, Prajwal said, “I have a family, I have not seen my mother and father for six months now…..please give me a less sentence is what I request the court…The only mistake I made in my life is growing fast in politics.”

Prajwal was arrested in May 2024 upon his arrival from Germany.

The special court for MPs/MLAs Judge Santosh Gajanan Bhat on Friday had convicted the 34-year-old Prajwal in one of the four sexual abuse and rape cases registered against him. The court is likely to pronounce the quantum of sentence on Saturday.

The prosecution advocates sought life imprisonment for Prajwal Revanna during the hearing, ahead of the sentencing.

The case pertains to a 48-year-old woman who was working as a help at the family’s Gannikada farmhouse in Hassan district’s Holenarasipura. She was allegedly raped twice — at Hassan farm house and Bengaluru residence– in 2021 and the act recorded by the accused on his mobile phone.