Former Indian MP Handed Life Sentence in Rape Case Involving Domestic Worker

By Amit Kumar

A former Member of Parliament from Karnataka has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being
found guilty of raping a woman who worked in his household, in a high-profile case that has shocked
the nation.
Prajwal Revanna, 34, hailing from a powerful political dynasty in southern India, was convicted on
Friday and sentenced the following day by a special court. The court found him guilty of sexually
assaulting his former domestic staff, following a months-long trial marked by intense media and
public scrutiny.
Revanna, who served as a parliamentarian from the Hassan constituency, is the grandson of ex-Prime
Minister H.D. Deve Gowda. His party, Janata Dal (Secular) is allied with current Prime Minister
Narendra Modi’s BJP.
The case drew national attention in 2023 when a series of explicit videos allegedly featuring Revanna
began circulating online, leading to widespread outrage. Despite initial silence from Revanna, an
official from his office said the videos had been doctored.
In April 2024, amid growing pressure and ongoing investigations, Revanna left India using his
diplomatic passport. He returned a month later from Germany and was immediately taken into
custody.
After being convicted on Friday, Revanna reportedly broke down in court and pleaded for leniency.
However, the judge handed down a life sentence the next day. His legal team is expected to file an
appeal.
Revanna is also facing additional legal troubles. Two more rape cases and one allegation of sexual
harassment are still pending against him. He continues to deny all charges.