Former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a Special Court for elected representatives in Bengaluru for the rape of a 47‑year‑old woman, a domestic worker at the family’s farmhouse in Hassan district. The court also imposed a ₹10 lakh fine. The verdict, handed down on August 2, 2025, followed his conviction under Section 376(2)(n) of the IPC just a day earlier on August 1.

Judge Santosh Gajanan Bhat pronounced the maximum sentence, noting the gravity of the crime. Prajwal has been imprisoned in Parappana Agrahara jail in Bengaluru since his arrest in May 2024.

Prosecution argued forcefully before the sentencing, stating that the victim had been subjected to repeated assault at both the Gannikada farmhouse and the Basavanagudi residence, and that Prajwal recorded explicit videos of her. These recordings were circulated publicly, causing severe distress and even a suicide attempt. The court heard that three additional cases of sexual assault are pending against Prajwal.

The prosecution also emphasized that Prajwal had abused his political position, showed no remorse, and allegedly attempted to mislead investigators, including reports of a kidnapping attempt. Senior public prosecutors sought the harshest punishment to serve as a deterrent .

In his final statement, Prajwal denied wrongdoing, attributing the allegations to political timing and claiming his only fault was a rapid rise in politics. He appealed for leniency, describing himself as a meritorious engineer and a dedicated parliamentarian before the charges surfaced.

Investigators submitted an exhaustive chargesheet—running 118 pages and backed by 180 documents—and presented the testimonies of 26 witnesses. Crucial evidence included forensic voice and image matching that confirmed the man in the assault video was Prajwal, and forensic analysis revealed the locations shown matched his known residences.

The survivor’s testimony was cited as particularly compelling, delivered amid emotional breakdowns yet unwavering in detail—providing the strongest support for the conviction.