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Prajwal Revanna

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In this Indian name, the name Revanna is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Prajwal.

Prajwal Revanna
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
23 May 2019 – 4 June 2024
Preceded byH. D. Deve Gowda
Succeeded byShreyas M. Patel
ConstituencyHassan
Personal details
Born (1990-08-05) 5 August 1990 (age 35)
Hassan, Karnataka, India
PartyJanata Dal (Secular) (until 2024)
Parent(s)H. D. Revanna
Bhavani Revanna
RelativesH. D. Deve Gowda (grandfather)
Suraj Revanna (elder brother)
H. D. Kumaraswamy (uncle)
Anitha Kumaraswamy (aunt)
Nikhil Kumar (cousin)[1]
Bangalore Institute of Technology[2]
ProfessionPolitician

Prajwal Revanna (born 5 August 1990) is a former Indian politician and convicted criminal, currently serving a life sentence for sexual assault and rape.[3][4] He served as a member of the 17th Lok Sabha representing the Hassan constituency.[5]

In 2024, Revanna faced widespread accusations of raping multiple women. Videos of the alleged acts, reportedly recorded by Revanna himself, circulated across Hassan district, triggering a major political and legal controversy.[3][6] In August 2025, the Special Sessions Court for criminal cases against Members of Parliament and Members of Legislative Assembly convicted him and sentenced him to life imprisonment for the sexual assault of a domestic worker from Krishnarajanagara in Mysuru district, Karnataka.[7][8] He is currently serving his sentence in Bengaluru Central Prison.[9]

Early life and background

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Revanna is the son of H. D. Revanna, former Minister for Public Works Department of Karnataka. He is a grandson of former Prime Minister of India H. D. Deve Gowda and nephew of former Chief Minister of Karnataka, H. D. Kumaraswamy.[10]

Revanna graduated in mechanical engineering from Bangalore Institute of Technology in 2014.[11] He joined a master's degree programme in Australia but discontinued it to join politics.

Political career

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Revanna started his political career by joining the campaign of H. D. Deve Gowda from Hassan in the 2014 Indian general election.[12] He was among the 10 young aspiring politicians in India to be chosen by Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, United Kingdom, to be exposed to the British way of governance in 2015. He was appointed as the state general secretary of the Janata Dal (Secular) in 2017 .[13] Although a JD(S) member from young age, his entry into electoral politics was delayed after the party denied him a ticket in the 2018 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election.[12]

Deve Gowda finally allowed Revanna to contest in the 2019 Indian general election from Hassan for the 17th Lok Sabha, himself moving to Tumkur.[14] Revanna won from Hassan, and became the only winner from his party's six candidates that contested the elections. Within 12 hours of the win, saddened by his grandfather's defeat from Tumkur, Revanna announced his resignation and offered the seat to Gowda,[15] who asked him to reconsider the decision.[16] In September 2019, the Karnataka High Court issued a summons to him over an incomplete election affidavit. Petitioners of the summons accused Revanna of filing a false and incomplete affidavit with his nomination papers during the 2019 elections.[17] In January 2020, Justice John Michael D'Cunha dismissed the first petition on grounds that the petitioner had not complied with the statutory procedure under Section 81(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and the second on technical grounds.[18]

Revanna's political career ended as a consequence of his own criminal conduct. JD(S) suspended him with immediate effect once the circulating videos had caused what the party described as "huge embarrassment" to its leadership.[19] He fled to Germany on a diplomatic passport shortly after the second phase of Lok Sabha polling, but was tracked through an Interpol Blue Corner Notice issued on 5 May and arrested at Kempegowda International Airport on 31 May 2024 upon returning to India.[20][21] His suspension was subsequently converted into a permanent expulsion from the party. On 2 August 2025, the Special Court for People's Representatives sentenced him to life imprisonment, concluding both his legal proceedings and his political career.[22]

Criminal History

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2024 Sexual Abuse allegations, subsequent conviction and life sentence

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Revanna again contested from the Hassan constituency in the 2024 general election for the Lok Sabha.[23] On the day of voting, his polling agent filed a complaint with the police alleging that some falsified photos and videos of Revanna were being widely circulated in Hassan district and claimed that "the accused are going door to door and showing these obscene photos and videos, provoking people not to vote for Revanna"[24]

As media attention grew towards the alleged sexual abuse, on 27 April, the Government of Karnataka established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations. The Karnataka State Commission for Women stated that it had also recorded cases of women being forced and filmed without consent.[25] It was reported that thousands of pen drives containing these videos, reportedly made by Revanna himself, were circulated, some being thrown in public places such as parks, bus stops and a stadium in Hassan.[3][26][27]

The following day, it was reported that Revanna had fled the country for Germany using his diplomatic passport which does not require a visa. His family and party members said that his trip was pre-planned. However, he did not obtain the clearance required for use of a diplomatic passport from the Ministry of External Affairs before traveling to Germany.[28][29] On 30 April, Revanna was suspended by the party, which stated that the suspension would stay till the SIT probe initiated against him was completed.[3][29]

As Revanna continued to evade authorities, the SIT sought help from the Interpol to locate him, and a blue corner notice was issued on 5 May.[30][31]

On 31 May 2024, Revanna was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore after arriving on a Lufthansa flight from Munich. Interpol informed the SIT of Revanna's check-in and boarding information from Munich. He was detained by immigration officers and handed over to the police at the airport.[32][33] Initially, a special court for elected representatives remanded him to SIT custody until 6 June, which was later extended to 10 June.[34] Revanna's father, H. D. Revanna, said he should be hanged if he is found guilty of committing any crime.[35]

Revanna was convicted of rape in the first case. Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat of the special court for elected representatives found Revanna guilty of sexually assaulting a farm labourer who worked for his family and for recording the assault. This is the first judgement in one of four cases filed against him. On 2 August 2025, a special court in Bengaluru sentenced Revanna to life imprisonment, and fined him Rs 5 lakh, for sexually assaulting a 48-year-old woman who was working as house help at his residence. The court also said that the victim will be given Rs 7 lakh in compensation.[36]

On 3 December 2025, the Karnataka High Court refused to suspend his life sentence, with a division bench of Justice K S Mudagal and Justice Venkatesh Naik T ruling that the gravity of the offences, the multiple pending cases against him, and the risk of witness tampering made it unfit for bail, scheduling the final appeal hearing for 12 January 2026.[37]

References

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  1. ^ Prajwal Revanna has 2 illegitimate children
  2. ^ "Prajwal R(JD(S)):Constituency- HASSAN(KARNATAKA) – Affidavit Information of Candidate". myneta.info. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d Imran Qureshi; Meryl Sebastian (29 April 2024). "Prajwal Revanna: Karnataka MP's 'sex abuse' tapes spark outrage". BBC News.
  4. ^ "Rape Conviction: Prajwal Revanna Sentenced to Life Imprisonment by Special Court". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  5. ^ "Hassan(Karnataka) Lok Sabha Election Results 2019". www.elections.in. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  6. ^ "Sexual abuse case: Third FIR filed against Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna". Business Standard. Press Trust of India. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Prajwal Revanna, former JD(S) MP, convicted in rape case". The Hindu. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 1 August 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ Dwarakanath, Sagay RajNagarjun (1 August 2025). "Ex-JDS MP Prajwal Revanna convicted for rape, verdict came in just 14 months". India Today. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  9. ^ "Rape convict Prajwal Revanna now a library clerk in Bengaluru jail; tasked with issuing books, keeping records". The Times of India. 8 September 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  10. ^ "JANATA DAL (SECULAR)". jds.ind.in. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  11. ^ "Deve Gowda's grandson joins politics". The Times of India. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  12. ^ a b "Prajwal Revanna: The rebellious one". The Week. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  13. ^ "Prajwal Revanna is general secretary of JD(S)". The Hindu. 27 November 2017. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  14. ^ "Deve Gowda ends suspense, will contest from Tumkur". Deccan Herald. 23 March 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  15. ^ "Prajwal Revanna to resign, offers grandfather Deve Gowda the Hassan seat". The Hindu. 24 May 2019. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  16. ^ "Deve Gowda tells grandson Prajwal Revanna not to resign". Deccan Herald. 25 May 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  17. ^ "Karnataka HC summons Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna over incomplete election affidavit". The New Indian Express. 11 September 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  18. ^ "Karnataka HC dismisses petition against Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna". The New Indian Express. 1 February 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  19. ^ Mohan, Archis (30 April 2024). "Lok Sabha polls: Amid mounting pressure, JD(S) suspends Prajwal Revanna". Business Standard. Retrieved 18 May 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ "SIT arrests Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna at Bengaluru airport after his return from Germany". The Hindu. 31 May 2024. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  21. ^ "Prajwal Revanna sex video case: Red Corner notice likely against MP as SIT seeks to cancel diplomatic passport". The Week. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  22. ^ "'Broke down, started weeping': Prajwal Revanna in 'tears' after his conviction in rape case; quantum of punishment tomorrow". The Times of India. 1 August 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  23. ^ "Incumbent MPs D K Suresh & Prajwal Revanna file nominations in Karnataka". The Economic Times. 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  24. ^ Ghoshal, Arkadev, ed. (25 April 2024). "'Morphed videos, photos of JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna being circulated,' alleges his polling agent". The South First. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  25. ^ "SIT To Probe 'Obscene Video Scandal' Involving JDS MP Prajwal Revanna; CM Siddaramaiah Reacts". News18. 28 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  26. ^ "Prajwal Revanna 'sex scandal': Karnataka govt. announces SIT probe". The Hindu. 28 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  27. ^ Joshi, Bharath. "Hassan sex scandal: CM Siddaramaiah orders special probe, Prajwal Revanna to flee?". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  28. ^ "Prajwal Revanna travelled to Germany on diplomatic passport, no political clearance was sought: MEA". The Hindu. 2 May 2024. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  29. ^ a b "Prajwal Revanna suspended from JD(S), but what was the compulsion to give him a ticket from Hassan?". CNBCTV18. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  30. ^ "Blue corner notice issued against Prajwal Revanna, Interpol help sought". Mint. 5 May 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  31. ^ "Explained: What is an Interpol 'Blue Corner' notice, and how will it speed probe against Prajwal Revanna". The Hindu. 6 May 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  32. ^ "Police on alert as Prajwal Revanna boards flight at Munich, to reach Bengaluru post-midnight". The Indian Express. 30 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  33. ^ D'Souza, Prajwal. "Prajwal Revanna arrested by SIT in sexual abuse case upon landing at Bengaluru airport". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  34. ^ "Bengaluru court extends Prajwal Revanna's SIT custody till June 10". Hindustan Times. 6 June 2024. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
  35. ^ "Hang my son if he has committed any crime: Prajwal Revanna's father".
  36. ^ Ethirajan, Anbarasan (2 August 2025). "Prominent Indian ex-MP gets life sentence for rape". BBC Home. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  37. ^ "Karnataka HC rejects Prajwal Revannas plea to suspend life sentence in rape case". The Tribune. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
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