Prajwal Revanna Rape Case

In April 2024, thousands of explicit videos allegedly showing Prajwal Revanna, a Member of Parliament from Hassan, Karnataka, sexually assaulting multiple women were leaked ahead of the national elections. Revanna, the grandson of former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda, fled to Germany but returned and was arrested on May 31, 2024. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) took over the probe, and in 2025 filed an extensive charge sheet detailing offences including rape, gang rape, criminal intimidation, and voyeurism under Indian law. The accused has been in judicial custody, with bail petitions repeatedly denied. The trial commenced in a special fast-track court in 2025, while political rivalries intensified, with the opposition accusing the state government of a cover-up. The case remains sub judice as of mid-2025.

Trial ongoing as of mid-2025; Prajwal Revanna remains in judicial custody, and no final verdict has been delivered. Multiple bail applications have been rejected, and the SIT charge sheet has framed serious criminal charges.

The authenticity and source of the leaked videos; allegations of political conspiracy and efforts by influential family members to suppress evidence; the accused’s flight from India and delay in arrest; protection of victim identities and admissibility of digital evidence; and the role of the ruling Janata Dal (Secular) party in shielding the accused.

The case triggered massive protests across Karnataka, with women’s rights groups demanding swift justice. It severely damaged the electoral prospects of the Janata Dal (Secular) in the 2024 general election, leading to the defeat of Revanna and other party candidates. The scandal fueled public debate on sexual violence by politicians, the safety of digital evidence, and the need for stronger laws against sexual exploitation. It also exposed dynastic politics and alleged impunity enjoyed by powerful families in India.