Prajwal Revanna gets life imprisonment in 1st of 3 rape cases
BENGALURU: A special court on Saturday sentenced former MP Prajwal Revanna to life imprisonment. The verdict was pronounced a day after the former parliamentarian from Hassan was found guilty of repeatedly raping his 47-year-old domestic help.
Of the three rape cases and one sexual harassment case against Prajwal, this is the first to go to trial and reach a verdict. The 34-year-old grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda was once seen as a rising political star of the JD(S) first family.
Special Judge Santosh Gajanan Bhat announced the punishment in a packed court hall around 4.30 pm. With his head down, Prajwal listened to the judge as he detailed the quantum of punishment under different sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
He was visibly shattered upon hearing the sentence. Later, he silently walked out of the court hall.
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In the first part of the day, Justice Bhat heard the arguments of the special public prosecutors as well as the counsel for Prajwal, who was found guilty under eight IPC sections.
Among them, IPC 376 (2) (K) (being in a position of control or dominance over a woman, committing rape on such a woman) and 376 (2) (N) (committing rape repeatedly on the same woman) resulted in life imprisonment.
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Police found it difficult to escort Prajwal out of the jam-packed court hall, with advocates, mediapersons, and others present.
According to special public prosecutor Ashok Nayak, Prajwal can appeal the sentence in high court.
Rs 11.3 lakh will have to be paid to survivor
The court also imposed a fine of ₹11.6 lakh on Prajwal, of which, ₹11.25 lakh will have to be paid to the survivor as compensation.
He can make a plea for suspension of the sentence first. If the court upholds the sentence, then Prajwal can appeal for reduction in the punishment.
However, if the high court rejects both, then he may knock on the doors of Supreme Court,' special public prosecutor Ashok Nayak said.
Apart from IPC 376 (2) (K) and and 376 (2) (N), the other sections under which Prajwal was found guilty and punished include: IPC 354A (sexual harassment; three years' rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 25,000); IPC 354B (assault or use of criminal force on any woman; seven years' rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 50,000); IPC 354C (voyeurism; three years' rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 25,000); IPC 506 (criminal intimidation; two years' rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 10,000); IPC 201 (tampering of evidence; three years' rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 25,000); Section 66 of Information Technology Act (three years' rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 25,000).
DKS: Why BJP leaders not talking about it?
Declining to comment on the conviction, deputy CM DK Shivakumar said the reactions of JD(S) and BJP functionaries were more important than his.'You should ask for the reactions of JD(S) and BJP leaders than asking for my comments. They have to tell us what is right and what is wrong. We respect the law and abide by it. Why are BJP leaders, including CT Ravi, Ashoka and Narayanaswamy, not talking about this?'
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