For the first time in Indian history, the grandson of a former Prime Minister has been sentenced to life in prison for a rape case.
Prajwal Revanna, grandson of former PM H. D. Deve Gowda and son of ex-Karnataka minister H. D. Revanna, was found guilty by a special court in Bengaluru. The court said he raped a 47-year-old maid several times at their farmhouse and also recorded videos of the act.
This case moved quickly. The crime came to light during the 2024 elections. By then, Prajwal was already a sitting MP from Hassan and contesting for the second time from the JD(S) party, which had allied with the BJP. Soon after the videos were leaked and complaints were filed, Prajwal was suspended from his party. He then fled to Germany.
But the Karnataka government formed a SIT and pursued the case seriously. He was brought back to India and arrested. Over 1,600 pages of evidence, DNA samples, and 26 witness statements were presented in court. Based on all this, Judge Santosh Gajanan Hegde gave him a life sentence on August 2.
The court also fined Prajwal ₹10 lakh. Out of this, ₹7 lakh must be paid to the victim, and ₹3 lakh must go to women’s shelter homes. The judge said this case was a serious misuse of power and privilege.
This is the first time a former PM’s family member has received such a punishment in a sexual assault case. Prajwal is also facing two more similar cases in Mysuru and Yeshwanthpur, which are still under investigation.
With this verdict, the legal system has sent a strong message that even powerful people will not be spared if they commit such crimes.
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