From Rising Politician to Life Imprisonment: The Shocking Downfall of Prajwal Revanna in a High-Profile Rape Case

Prajwal Revanna’s political career, once filled with promise, has come crashing down, marking a dark chapter in Karnataka’s recent history. On Saturday, August 2, 2025, a special court in Karnataka found Prajwal Revanna guilty of a heinous rape case and sentenced him to life imprisonment. Once seen as a potential future leader in the halls of Parliament, Revanna now stands convicted in one of the most sensational crimes in Indian politics.

The Scandal That Shocked the Nation

The controversy first erupted around the time of the April 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In Hassan district, a pen-drive containing over 2,000 alleged sex videos linked to Prajwal Revanna surfaced and sent shockwaves across India. The videos reportedly showed Revanna in explicit situations with multiple women, sparking massive outrage and public debate.

While Revanna initially described the videos as a conspiracy to malign his image just before the elections, the truth proved far more troubling. The scandal led to a criminal investigation that would change the political landscape of Karnataka.

A Maze of Criminal Allegations

On April 26, 2024, a day after the voting concluded, Prajwal Revanna left India using his diplomatic passport. This triggered a full-scale investigation by Karnataka authorities, who quickly assembled a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to uncover the facts.

Soon thereafter, a shocking complaint emerged. A woman employed at Revanna’s residence accused him of raping her twice—once at his Ganekadu farmhouse in Hassan and again in Bengaluru during the Covid-19 lockdown. Following her allegations, the woman suddenly went missing, and suspicions arose that Revanna’s parents had kidnapped her to prevent her from testifying in court.

Political Fallout and Arrest

Under mounting pressure from opposition parties and amidst growing public outrage, the Janata Dal (Secular)—or JD(S)—suspended Prajwal Revanna from the party on April 30, 2024, in an attempt to preserve its reputation. Authorities promptly issued a lookout notice for Revanna’s arrest.

He returned from Germany on May 31, 2024, and was immediately arrested at the airport upon arriving in India. The legal proceedings that followed were closely watched by the nation.

The Court’s Verdict

After a lengthy and dramatic trial, the special court found Prajwal Revanna guilty on August 1, 2025, and handed down a life sentence the very next day, August 2. Overcome with emotion, Revanna reportedly broke into tears in the courtroom after hearing the decision.

Special Judge Santosh Gajanan Bhatt also imposed a fine of ₹11,50,000 on Revanna, stipulating that ₹11,25,000 of this amount should be paid directly to the victim.

The Many Charges Against Revanna

This case is just the first among four registered rape cases against Prajwal Revanna. In this particular trial, he was convicted under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the IT Act, including:

Section 376(2): Rape while in a position of authority
Section 376(N): Repeated rape of the same woman
Section 354A: Sexual harassment
Section 354B: Assault intended to disrobe a woman
Section 354C: Voyeurism, including watching or capturing images of someone undressing or engaging in sexual acts
Section 506: Criminal intimidation
Section 201: Destruction of evidence
IT Act Section 66E: Privacy violations

The scale and gravity of these charges underscore the severity of Revanna’s actions and the breach of trust placed in him as a public official.

A Cautionary Tale in Indian Politics

The Prajwal Revanna case serves as a stark reminder of the need for accountability and justice, regardless of one’s status or power. Where once he was seen navigating the corridors of power as a rising political star, he will now spend the rest of his life behind bars, paying for his crimes.

The incident also highlights the importance of protecting victims’ rights in high-profile cases and ensuring that justice is not derailed by the influence of position or political clout.

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