Right before the Lok Sabha elections of 2024, a political storm in Karnataka brought disgrace to the state’s powerful Gowda family. Grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda was accused of outraging women’s modesty and rape. The 33-year-old Prajwal Revanna was suspended from his party Janata Dal (Secular) and later arrested. When an MP/MLA Special Court on Friday convicted Revanna in one of four rape and sexual abuse cases filed against him, the former MP broke down in the court.
“Tomorrow, the quantum of the sentence will be pronounced. In this case, we have examined 26 witnesses on behalf of the prosecution…A speedy trial has taken place,” prosecution lawyer Ashok Nayak told reporters. He further called the verdict a “victory” and congratulated the SIT team for the investigation in the case.
Who is Prajwal Revanna?
Once touted as the rising star of the Gowda family, Prajwal Revanna now stands disgraced. The court’s latest verdict against the suspended JD(S) leader and former MP from Hassan marks a stunning fall from grace for the grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda.
Prajwal, son of HD Revanna and nephew of former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, had once been groomed to carry forward the family’s formidable political legacy in Hassan, a district long dominated by the Gowdas. He was elected MP in 2019 but suffered a humiliating defeat in the last Lok Sabha elections. His last year’s election campaign was overshadowed by multiple allegations of sexual abuse.
Revanna sex scandal
The scandal broke wide open when pen drives containing thousands of explicit videos, allegedly involving Prajwal and numerous women, began circulating in Hassan and nearby districts last year. The Karnataka government formed a Special Investigation Team on April 27 to probe the allegations.
In January, a special court framed serious charges against him under multiple sections of the IPC, including rape, repeated rape, sexual harassment, voyeurism, criminal intimidation and destruction of evidence, as well as provisions of the IT Act.
Despite repeated attempts, Prajwal failed to secure bail from the special court and the Karnataka High Court. The Supreme Court also dismissed his plea in November 2024 saying he was “powerful and influential and could harm the trial”.
Prajwal’s conviction is both a personal and political crisis for the Gowda family, who once saw their patriarch rise to the office of Prime Minister. Once seen as an heir-apparent, his career now lies in tatters.
