A Bengaluru trial court on Friday reserved its verdict in the rape case filed against suspended Janata Dal (Secular) leader Prajwal Revanna, who stands accused of repeatedly raping his domestic worker and recording videos of the assaults.

The matter was heard by Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat, with the verdict now scheduled to be pronounced on July 30.

In April 2024, the court had framed charges against Revanna under several provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including:

• Section 376(2)(k) – rape by a person in a position of control

• Section 376(2)(n) – repeated rape

• Section 354A – sexual harassment

• Section 354B – assault with intent to disrobe

• Section 354C – voyeurism

• Section 506 – criminal intimidation

• Section 201 – destruction of evidence

In addition, Revanna faces charges under Section 66E of the Information Technology Act, 2008, relating to the violation of privacy by disseminating private images without consent.

Background of the Case

The complainant, a maid employed at the Revanna family’s farmhouse, alleged that she was first sexually assaulted around 2021 during the COVID-19 lockdown. She claimed she remained silent due to fear, as Revanna had allegedly recorded the act and threatened to leak the footage.

The complaint was filed only after reports surfaced online of sexually explicit videos involving multiple women, allegedly linked to Revanna. Over 2,900 such videos were reportedly circulated, including on social media platforms.

Following mounting public pressure, Revanna left for Germany soon after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka. He was arrested upon his return to India on May 31, 2024, and has remained in judicial custody since.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to probe the case filed its chargesheet in August 2024.

Legal Proceedings

Revanna subsequently moved an application seeking discharge, asserting that the allegations were false and politically motivated. His counsel questioned the delay in reporting the incident and argued that there was no substantial evidence linking him to the crime.

However, the SIT submitted that it had compiled four volumes of material evidence, including authentic forensic evidence of the alleged videos.

On April 3, the trial court dismissed the discharge plea, stating that the complainant’s testimony appeared credible and the case warranted a full trial. The Court noted that issues such as delayed reporting and the alleged absence of the original recording device were matters to be considered during trial, not at the discharge stage.

The court also rejected Revanna’s contention that the SIT lacked authority to file a chargesheet. It held that since the SIT consisted of officials from the CID, which had been designated as a "police station" by a government notification in January 2024, the chargesheet filed by it was valid.

The case continues to draw public attention, and the trial court's decision on July 30 is now highly anticipated.