Latest news with #PrajwalRevanna
Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Trial starts in second rape case against former Karnataka MP Prajwal Revanna with victim's statement
The trial in a second case of rape registered against former Karnataka MP Prajwal Revanna commenced in a special court in Bengaluru on Wednesday with the victim, a former zilla panchayat member in his Parliament constituency, making a partial statement about the alleged sexual assault. The 'victim is present before the court and the evidence of the victim is recorded in part through in-camera proceedings as PW-1 and during the course of her chief examination she has requested for short accommodation due to ill-health,' the special court noted while posting the further chief examination of the victim to June 2. On May 12, the special court for cases against elected representative scheduled May 28 as the date for the start of the trial in the second of four cases of rape and sexual harassment of women registered in 2024 against the former JDS MP from Hassan. In the second case, Prajwal Revanna is accused of sexually assaulting a former Hassan zilla panchayat member who approached him for official favors. The charges of rape were framed in the case on April 22. He pleaded not guilty and sought a trial. The special court issued summonses on May 12 to the first batch of witnesses, including the survivor of the alleged sexual assault, to facilitate the start of the trial on May 28. In September 2024, a Special Investigation Team of the Karnataka police filed a chargesheet against Prajwal Revanna for the repeated rape of the zilla panchayat member over a three-year period. Prajwal Revanna, 33, has been charged for repeated rape of a woman under Indian Penal Code section 376(2) (n), for criminal intimidation under section 506, for sexual harassment by demanding sexual favors under section 354(A) (1) (ii), for assault of a woman under 354(B), for voyeurism under 354 (C), and for destruction of evidence under 201, and for video recording and sharing the incidents under section 66 (E) of the Information Technology Act. The former zilla panchayat member has also accused Prajwal Revanna of recording videos of the sexual assaults, which were allegedly used to threaten and blackmail her into cooperating with his demands. When the trial commenced on Wednesday, the victim provided a brief statement about her ordeal and did not deviate from her earlier statements, the prosecution indicated. Cross-examination in first case The trial in the first case of rape, where the former MP is accused of sexually assaulting a domestic worker employed at his farm house, got underway on May 2 and the victim in that case and members of her family were cross-examined on Wednesday regarding their chief statements made earlier in the trial. 'PW-1 to PW-4 are present and they are fully cross-examined by the learned counsel for the accused,' the special court noted regarding the proceedings in the first case. The former MP is also accused in a case of sexual assault on a cook who worked for the Revanna family and the alleged sexual harassment of the cook's daughter. The rape charges against Prajwal Revanna emerged at the end of April 2024 following the leak of explicit videos and images through pen drives distributed in Hassan ahead of the April 26, 2024, Lok Sabha polls. He was arrested on May 31, 2024, on his return from Germany. An SIT was constituted to probe the sexual assault videos that were allegedly accessed from Prajwal Revanna's phone by a car driver and leaked to his political rivals. The former MP has been in prison for almost a year. Prajwal Revanna lost the Hassan seat in the polls held on April 26, 2024, against the backdrop of the mass release of the pen drives with videos of alleged sexual assaults involving him. He was fielded as the joint candidate of the JDS and the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
The Hindu
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Restored faith: On the Pollachi verdict
Justice, if not unduly delayed, restores public faith in due process and the criminal justice system. The recent verdict in the Pollachi sexual assault case, where a Coimbatore Mahila Court convicted all nine accused and sentenced them to life imprisonment for the remainder of their natural lives, is a significant step in this regard. More so, because the entire case originated from a single plea for help from a young victim, which helped expose the involvement of multiple tentacles of a body of criminals. In February 2019, a 19-year-old college student reported to the Pollachi East police that four men had sexually assaulted her in a car near Pollachi 12 days earlier. The ensuing investigation revealed this complaint to be just the tip of the iceberg. As in the Prajwal Revanna case in Karnataka, the seizure of digital devices unveiled the full scope of the atrocities. Since 2016, a group of young men had been systematically preying on vulnerable young women, from disadvantaged groups, filming the assaults, and using these videos for further exploitation. The sheer depravity uncovered shocked the State's collective conscience. Public outrage intensified with the exposure of the accused's political connections. One was identified as the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) Pollachi town students' wing secretary (later expelled), while another, involved in an assault on the survivor's brother, held a local secretary position in Amma Peravai, an AIADMK-affiliated youth organisation. Faced with mounting public pressure, the State government initially transferred the investigation to the Crime Branch-CID and subsequently to the Central Bureau of Investigation. Mahila Court Judge R. Nandhini Devi also directed the State government to provide a total compensation of ₹85 lakh to the survivors. The judge concurred with the prosecution's argument that the perpetrators had exploited their financial resources, physical power, political influence, and the incriminating videos to silence the survivors and perpetrate repeated assaults. She emphasised that she was clear that the judgment should 'reflect the public abhorrence of the crime'. As elections approach, politicians must resist the temptation to politicise this judgment, which not only delivered satisfactory justice but also challenged the misuse of political and financial clout. To foster a genuine feeling of security, the government must now assure its citizens an environment free from exploitation.
Indian Express
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Trial in second rape case against former Karnataka MP Prajwal Revanna to begin on May 28
A special court in Bengaluru has scheduled to start the trial of former MP Prajwal Revanna on May 28 in the second of four rape cases filed against him. The trial in the first case against the Hassan MP began before the special court on May 2. In the second case, Revanna, 33, is accused of sexually assaulting a former member of Hassan zilla panchayat who approached him for official favours. The charges, including rape, were framed on April 22, following which Revanna pleaded not guilty and sought a trial. He engaged an advocate for his defence on May 5. Last week, the special court issued summons for the appearance of the first batch of witnesses in the case, including the survivor of the alleged sexual assault, on May 28 to facilitate the start of the trial. 'In the meantime, issue a fresh body warrant against the accused for his production physically before the court on the next date of hearing. For trial, call on 28.05.2025,' the court said. In September 2024, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Karnataka Police filed a chargesheet against the former Janata Dal (Secular) MP for repeatedly raping the zilla panchayat member and sexually harassing her over three years. The woman said he recorded videos of the act, and blackmailed her into cooperating with his demands. Revanna was charged under Indian Penal Code sections 376(2) (n) (repeated rape), 506 (criminal intimidation), 354(A) (1) (ii) (demanding sexual favours), 354(B) (assault of woman), 354 (C) (voyeurism), and 201 (destruction of evidence), besides under section 66 (E) (video recording and sharing) of the Information Technology Act. On May 2, the Karnataka High Court dismissed a plea filed by Revanna's mother Bhavani which sought a stay on the trial on the grounds that they had not been able to engage an advocate and that the trial court had been unfair. The court rejected Bhavani's plea by pointing out that the Revanna family had enough means to engage a lawyer. 'On the guise of denial of fair trial if an attempt is made to stall the proceedings, such deliberate attempts need to be dealt with iron hands…,' Justice Vishwajith Shetty said in his order. In the first case of rape against Prajwal Revanna, in which the trial commenced on May 2 after the high court order, the former MP is accused of multiple sexual assaults on a woman who was employed as a domestic worker at his home. Revanna is also accused of sexually assaulting a cook who worked for the family, and sexually harassing the cook's daughter. Prajwal Revanna, against whom charges of rape emerged at the end of April 2024 following the leak of explicit videos and images through pen drives distributed in Hassan ahead of the Lok Sabha polls on April 26, was arrested on May 31 following his return from Germany. An SIT was constituted by the Karnataka government to probe the allegations. The former MP has been in prison since May 31, 2024, following his arrest.
Hindustan Times
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Bengaluru erupts in celebration as RCB storms into IPL playoffs, scuffle between fans outside Chinnaswamy stadium
Bengaluru witnessed an electric Sunday night as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) sealed their spot in the playoffs with a thrilling win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The victory sparked massive celebrations across the city, with fans pouring onto the streets and turning the evening into a carnival of red and black. Also Read - 'I was repeatedly attacked, but no one helped': Bengaluru woman on late-night molestation Moments after the match ended at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, thousands of euphoric RCB supporters gathered outside the venue, chanting slogans and waving flags. The mood was ecstatic, and the streets around the stadium transformed into a sea of cheering fans who refused to leave until the team departed for their hotel. In now-viral visuals on social media, the RCB team bus was seen navigating through dense crowds as fans surrounded it, refusing to let the moment pass. Bengaluru police, deployed to manage post-match crowds, had a challenging time dispersing the jubilant supporters well into the night. Renowned cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle captured the frenzy in a post on X, saying, "I have never been to a rock concert, but I cannot imagine it can be bigger than what I am seeing outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium." The celebrations weren't confined to the stadium vicinity. In neighbourhoods like Koramangala and Indiranagar, fans gathered in pubs and cafes that had screened the much-anticipated match. Videos from the team bus showed RCB players capturing the chaos and cheering on their phones, visibly moved by the overwhelming response from the crowd. Also Read - Karnataka HC refuses to defer rape trial against Prajwal Revanna One fan wrote on social media, "Goosebumps! So many players may never witness this kind of love. RCB players filming their fans — it's magical." Another viral post read, "Usually it's the fans who film their idols. But today, the idols are capturing their fans — that's the RCB effect." However, the celebrations weren't entirely without incident. Tensions flared briefly between a few RCB and CSK supporters outside the stadium, leading to a minor scuffle. Police intervened quickly and managed to defuse the situation. With this victory, RCB becomes the first team to secure a playoff berth this season, renewing hopes among fans that the elusive IPL trophy — after 18 seasons — could finally be within reach.
