Special court rejects Prajwal’s anticipatory bail plea

BENGALURU: Noting that the allegations against former Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna are serious and grave, the Special Court that hears cases against sitting and former MPs and MLAs has rejected the anticipatory bail plea filed by him in one of the three rape cases registered against him. Dismissing the anticipatory bail plea on September 4, Justice Santhosh Gajanan Bhat said that serious allegations had been levelled against the petitioner.

Referring to the complaint, Special Public Prosecutor BN Jagadeesha stated that the sexual abuse and exploitation of multiple women and the recording of the explicit acts, as alleged in the complaint, shocked the collective conscience not only of the people of the state but of the entire nation.

The court noted that there was no material to suggest that the victim had foisted a false case against the applicant. The actions and allegations clearly indicate that the victim was forced to accept the illegal demands due to threats and coercion. Last but not the least, the prosecution also alleged that if the applicant was granted bail, he could be a flight risk. The allegations in the complaint and the material provided by the prosecution clearly indicate that prima facie evidence exists, the court noted.

In the complaint filed with the Special Investigation Team on May 5, 2024, the complainant alleged that about eight years ago, one Sathish Babanna had hired her and her husband as domestic help at the farmhouse of JDS leader HD Revanna in Gannikada. Prajwal used to visit the farmhouse often.

During the lockdown in 2021, Prajwal visited the farmhouse one day when the complainant was cleaning the room and asked her to bring drinking water. He then closed the door and forced himself on her despite her repeated protests. Prajwal also recorded the act on his mobile phone and threatened to release the video clips if she revealed the incident.

She then avoided going to Gannikada’s farmhouse. However, one day, Prajwal’s mother Bhavani took the complainant and her sister to their house in Basavanagudi in Bengaluru for cleaning. There, Prajwal abused her again and recorded the act on his mobile phone.