The Karnataka High Court on Thursday issued notice to the State Government after former MP and Janata Dal (Secular) leader Prajwal Revanna moved an appeal challenging his conviction and life sentence in the rape case registered at Holenarasipura Rural Police Station in Hassan district. The bench, comprising Justice K S Mudagal and Justice Venkatesh Naik T, took up the matter briefly and directed Revanna’s counsel to file a detailed synopsis before the next hearing.
“The bench observed, ‘We need clarity on whether a Special Public Prosecutor has been appointed for this appeal, as was done during trial,’” one of the lawyers present in court told this reporter.
The matter has now been listed for October 28, when the State’s response is expected.
Background
The controversy dates back to a complaint filed by a woman who worked as a maid at the Revanna family farmhouse. According to the prosecution, Revanna allegedly sexually assaulted her multiple times between 2021 and 2023, during the COVID-19 lockdown period, and even recorded videos of the acts to threaten her into silence.
The case, which sent shockwaves through Hassan’s political circles, was investigated by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) after several videos purportedly linked to the incidents surfaced online.
In April this year, Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat framed multiple charges against Revanna, including rape, sexual harassment, voyeurism, and criminal intimidation, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act. On August 2, the court found him guilty on all counts and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
Revanna, grandson of former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda, has consistently maintained that the allegations are part of a politically motivated campaign to destroy his image and weaken his party’s standing in Hassan.
Court’s Observations
During Thursday’s brief hearing, the division bench did not enter into the merits of the case but focused on procedural clarity. The judges sought confirmation on whether a Special Public Prosecutor had been formally appointed for handling the appeal, mirroring the arrangement during the trial.
“The court wants to ensure that both sides are represented with proper continuity,” an advocate familiar with the case explained.
The bench also directed Revanna’s counsel to submit a comprehensive synopsis summarizing his main grounds of appeal.
In his plea, Revanna has alleged that the SIT investigation was carried out under political pressure, asserting that “the entire prosecution case was concocted and fabricated.” He pointed to what he termed an “unnatural delay” of over three years in the lodging of the complaint, suggesting it undermines the credibility of the charges.
Revanna’s legal team further argued that the complainant’s conduct, as reflected in her statements, does not align with the timeline and gravity of allegations. They also emphasized that there were serious inconsistencies between the oral testimonies and the digital evidence presented during trial.
Decision
After hearing both sides briefly, the High Court issued notice to the State Government, marking the formal admission of Revanna’s appeal. The court also sought a response on the appointment of a Special Public Prosecutor and fixed October 28 as the next date of hearing.
For now, Revanna remains in judicial custody, as the SIT continues to probe two additional cases registered against him. He was arrested on May 30, 2024, upon his return from Germany at the Bengaluru airport.
With the notice issued, the legal battle for the influential Hassan politician has only begun its next round - this time before the High Court.
Case: State of Karnataka (by SIT) vs. Prajwal Revanna
Case No.: Criminal Appeal No. 1977 of 2025
Filed By: Prajwal Revanna (Appellant)
Respondent: State of Karnataka by Special Investigation Team (SIT)
Date of Order: October 9, 2025
Next Hearing: October 28, 2025