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Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Prajwal Revanna's crimes ‘heinous abuse of power'
Bengaluru: A Bengaluru court has held that former Janata Dal (S) parliamentarian Prajwal Revanna's crimes were not only 'heinous' but compounded by his 'abuse of power,' repeated sexual violence, and the 'lasting trauma' inflicted on the survivor. Suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna. (PTI PHOTO) While awarding Revanna the maximum sentence of life imprisonment following his conviction for the offence of rape last week, sessions judge Santosh Gajanana Bhat, in his 480 page judgement, held that as a sitting MP, Revanna wielded his political and social dominance to violate a woman employed in his household, coercing her into silence through 'fear, shame, and manipulation.' The court found no mitigating factors, only aggravating ones, while sentencing the former MP. It noted that Revanna did not show remorse and offered no explanation for his conduct. Revanna's 'social and political influence' aggravated the power imbalance, the court said. It thus, ruled that the 'gravity of the offences demanded the harshest punishment permitted by law'. This, the court said, was essential not just for retribution, but to send an 'unequivocal message' that no one, not even the powerful, is above accountability when it comes to crimes against women. 'While Indian society is built on the ideal of revering women, a horrifying incident in 2024, where obscene and vulgar images violating the personal liberty of respectable women went viral and were circulated via pen drive, shocked the public conscience and prompted the Karnataka government to form a special investigation team,' the court said. The court held that Revanna, known to the victim's family, had grossly abused his position of power to repeatedly rape her, a pattern of assault that falls under Section 376(2)(n) of the Indian Penal Code. It found the survivor's suffering to be extreme, marked by 'severe physical and psychological trauma, social ostracism, and even a suicide attempt,' all of which, the court said, 'warranted the maximum sentence.' Quoting from the Raja Dharma, the court invoked the principle that 'Dharma protects those who protect it; those who destroy Dharma get destroyed,' to emphasise the need for just and proportional punishment. It held that showing leniency to the accused would be inappropriate, as no mitigating factors were presented to justify anything less than the maximum sentence. The court concluded that the only fitting response to such a grave abuse of power and repeated sexual violence was the severest penalty permitted by law. The court noted that the victim was a poor woman, employed as a domestic help by the Revannas at one of their residential properties. She earned just ₹10,000 per month and a sack of rice as salary for such work. Every time she deposed before the court, and each time she was asked to identify herself in the several videos of her sexual assault that were leaked online, the victim would begin to 'weep profusely,' the court noted. It also referred to one of the videos where the woman is seen touching Revanna's feet and reminding him that she was old enough to be his mother, urging him to spare her, and noted that Revanna showed no mercy. All of this, the court held, unequivocally justified Prajwal Revanna's conviction and the imposition of the maximum sentence of life imprisonment. 'This Court is of the considered opinion that the convict deserves to be awarded the maximum punishment of life imprisonment under Section 376(2)(n) IPC, as there are no mitigating circumstances brought on record and the crime committed by the accused is of grave and heinous nature involving betrayal of trust, repeated sexual assault, and gross misuse of power,' the judge said. Revanna was arrested in June last year from the Kempegowda airport in Bengaluru after he retired from Germany, where he had fled to after some of the videos of sexual assault in the present case began circulating online. Following the videos, the survivor had filed a police complaint accusing Revanna of having repeatedly sexually assaulted her. According to her testimony, the assaults occurred in 2021, during the Covid-19 lockdown, at two locations, the family's farmhouse in Gannikada in Hassan district, and their residence in Basavanagudi, Bengaluru. The survivor alleged that Revanna not only raped her on multiple occasions but also filmed the assaults on his mobile phone. She claimed she was threatened into silence.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
After D K Shivakumar rides scooter on Hebbal flyover, JD(S) points out Rs 18,500 fine for traffic violations
A scooter driven by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar during an inspection of the newly constructed loop on Hebbal flyover earlier this week had Rs 18,500 pending in traffic fines from 34 cases of violations, the JD(S) and others alleged. On Tuesday, Shivakumar rode the two-wheeler while inspecting the Hebbal flyover loop, and his video was widely shared, including his X handle. 'The Hebbal flyover loop is set to open, easing traffic congestion and ensuring smoother and faster commutes as part of our government's commitment to building a better Bengaluru,' the Karnataka deputy chief minister said in the post. Later, an R T Nagar traffic police officer confirmed that the vehicle owner voluntarily visited the police station and paid the fine worth Rs 18,500. #Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister @DKShivakumar 's Tuesday bike ride on Hebbal flyover caused embarrassment after it was revealed that the two-wheeler he was riding had Rs 18,500 in pending traffic fines. — Express Bengaluru (@IEBengaluru) August 6, 2025 However, a few hours after the videos started doing rounds, the JD(S) social media cell and others alleged the owner of the two-wheeler had 34 pending traffic violations, including riding without helmets, mobile phone usage while driving, and entering restricted zones, against him on the Bengaluru Traffic Police portal. They said the owner had been fined Rs 18,500 for the violations. The JD(S) party accused him of prioritising photo opportunities over effective governance and demanded police action to recover the outstanding fines. As the allegation sparked public scrutiny over the accumulated violations, members of the ruling Congress party quickly clarified that Shivakumar was merely borrowing the vehicle for the brief inspection ride and didn't own it. A traffic police constable said it was a good move that Shivakumar drove the scooter. 'There are hundreds of violations captured from cameras that are pending. It is humanly impossible to recover those fines. In this case, the owner had not paid despite the 34 violations. With just a short ride by Shivakumar, we were able to clear the violations,' the constable said.
India Today
3 days ago
- India Today
How a saree hidden in Prajwal Revanna's farmhouse sealed his fate in rape case
A saree tucked away in the attic of a farmhouse became a turning point in the rape case against former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, and ultimately, one of the key pieces of forensic evidence that led to his August 2, Prajwal was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Rs 11 lakh for raping a 47-year-old domestic worker in Mysuru and recording the assault. The fine will be paid as compensation to the of the most decisive pieces of evidence in the case was the survivor's saree. According to investigators, after the rape, Prajwal forcibly took the survivor's saree, which carried physical of destroying the garment, Prajwal allegedly hid it in the attic of his farmhouse, confident that it would never be discovered or traced back to him. But the decision proved to be a serious the investigation, when officers asked the survivor about what she was wearing at the time of the assault, she revealed that Prajwal never returned her saree, and that it could still be in the farmhouse. Acting on this, police raided the premises and found the saree in the attic. It was sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory, which confirmed the presence of semen. DNA analysis matched it to say that the saree, along with the survivor's detailed statement, became pivotal to building the case. The DNA evidence on the saree emerged as one of the most significant components in the prosecution's case against Prajwal Revanna.- EndsTrending Reel IN THIS STORY#Karnataka
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
No time for party affairs as I am busy with my constituency: G.T. Deve Gowda
MLA and former Minister G.T. Deve Gowda on Wednesday said that he has remained focused on his constituency and has not been active in party affairs, as there are numerous issues that require his continued attention and intervention. 'I have stayed neutral within the party. I am fully occupied with addressing the grievances of people in my constituency. It's a large area, and several matters need to be handled on a regular basis. Therefore, I have confined myself to the work of Chamundeshwari constituency and stayed away from party matters,' the MLA told reporters in Mysuru. Mr. Gowda chaired a meeting of officials regarding the development of the Chamundeshwari constituency. Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy and other senior district officials were present. When asked why he has distanced himself from the JD(S) despite being its senior-most MLA, Mr. Gowda said his focus has solely been on his constituency. 'Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah know how I built the JD(S) in the region. So, the question of me being sidelined doesn't arise,' he said. Responding to another question on whether his strength was being underutilised by the party, he remarked, 'The party remembers me whenever there is an election.' He added that the JD(S) and the BJP are in alliance, and leaders of both parties are working to strengthen their respective organisations. 'The parties are together, with Nikhil Kumaraswamy building the JD(S) and B.Y. Vijayendra building the BJP,' he said, answering a question on the alliance post-Lok Sabha polls. When asked whether the recent court verdict on former MP Prajwal Revanna would impact the party's image, Mr. Gowda said, 'The issue is old. The court verdict has come now. We had already clarified the matter much earlier when I was heading the party's core committee. Mr. Kumaraswamy (Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy) has also responded on the issue in the past.'
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Fast and fined: Scooter DK Shivakumar rode has Rs 18,500 in traffic fines from 34 cases; owner pays Rs 1,000 after viral ride
A file photo of Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar. BENGALURU: A gearless scooter ridden by Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar during an inspection of the newly constructed loop on Hebbal flyover on Tuesday has Rs 18,500 pending in traffic fines from 34 cases, the JD(S) alleged in an official post on X (formerly Twitter). DK Shivakumar had a ride through the loop; first alone and then with a pillion. It is not clear whether the owner of the gearless scooter is a political party functionary or a just passerby. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Later, city traffic police confirmed the same and summonned the vehicle owner, asking him to come and pay the fine amount. Police said the vehicle owner visited Hebbal traffic police station on Wednesday afternoon and paid a Rs 1,000 fine. "He promised to pay the remaining fine amount— Rs 17,500 in a few days," police said. The gearless scooter, bearing the license plate number (KA 04 JZ 2087), is registered in the name of Babjan, son of Nanne Sab S from Bhuvaneshwarinagar in RT Nagar. The list of 34-offences include speaking over a mobile phone while riding, jumping traffic signals, wrong parking, and riding without a helmet, among others. The JD (S) party took a swipe at Shivakumar, pointing out the unpaid fines while sharing visuals of him riding pillion on the scooter. "Also, the half-helmets worn by Shivakumar and his pillion rider during the inspection are illegal. However, since we are not penalising the public for wearing half helmets, we will not fine Shivakumar and his pillion for the half-helmets. But yes, whenever we find motorists with half helmets, we request them not to use them," a senior traffic police officer said. The video sparked a debate on social media, where netizens asked cops to check whether DK Shivakumar has a driving license or not. Also, the netizens pointed out that half-helmets are illegal.
