Sexual abuse case: 2,000-page chargesheet filed against JD(S) MLA HD Revanna, his son and former MP Prajwal

The case rests on evidence in the form of videos that started circulating ahead of the Lok Sabha elections this year. Given the nature of the allegations against a candidate in the polls, the media picked up on the videos showing sexual assault/rape of women in Hassan district.

The chair of the State Commission for Women has asked the police to also investigate who filmed the sexual exploitation and who made the images public. This harms the dignity of women who are exploited by politicians.

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Earlier, media reported that in 2020, a woman working as a domestic help in HD Revanna’s house was raped by him; later the same year, his son Prajwal raped the same woman.

Former MP Prajwal Revanna, 33, was accused of forcing the woman’s daughter to talk to him over a video call and stripping naked during the call. A case was registered against HD Revanna and Prajwal Revanna for sexually assaulting and threatening women at the Holenarsipura Town police station.

During the investigation, the SIT questioned more than 150 witnesses and recorded the statements of the victims and witnesses under Section 164 CrPC.
The SIT also sought expert reports after collecting evidence and subjecting it to forensic examination.

When the Lok Sabha elections for his constituency ended on April 26, Prajwal Revanna fled abroad on a diplomatic passport after the videos went viral. He remained untraceable for a while and was arrested by the SIT when he landed in Bengaluru from Germany on May 31. He has been in custody since then.

(Edited by Rosamma Thomas with inputs from Mahesh M Goudar)

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