In a significant legal development, the Karnataka High Court has firmly dismissed a petition filed by former Janata Dal (Secular) MP Prajwal Revanna. The plea sought the suspension of his life imprisonment sentence in a high-profile rape case dating back to 2019.
Court Upholds Conviction, Denies Suspension
A single-judge bench of the High Court delivered the verdict on Wednesday, December 4, 2024. The court rejected Revanna's application, which was filed under Section 389 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). This section allows for the suspension of a sentence pending the hearing of an appeal.
The court's decision means that Prajwal Revanna will remain in judicial custody and continue serving his life term. His legal team had argued for the suspension of the sentence while his main appeal against the conviction is heard. However, the bench found no grounds to grant this interim relief.
Background of the Case and Trial Court Verdict
The case stems from an incident in 2019, involving a woman who worked at Revanna's residence in Holenarasipura, Hassan district. The victim had accused the then-MP of sexual assault and rape. Following a detailed investigation and trial, the Special Court for Elected Representatives in Bengaluru convicted Prajwal Revanna on October 31, 2024.
The trial court sentenced him to life imprisonment for the offence of rape under the Indian Penal Code. The court also imposed a fine. The conviction was a major outcome in a case that had attracted considerable public and media attention due to the political stature of the accused.
Legal Proceedings and Future Course
Following the conviction, Revanna's legal team promptly filed an appeal in the Karnataka High Court, challenging the trial court's judgment. Concurrently, they filed the separate application for suspension of the sentence, which has now been dismissed.
The dismissal of the suspension plea is a critical setback for Revanna. It indicates that the High Court, at this preliminary stage, did not find sufficient merit in the arguments for his release during the appeal process. The legal journey is not over, as the main appeal against the conviction itself is still pending and will be heard on its own merits in due course.
The case has had significant political ramifications in Karnataka. Prajwal Revanna, the grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, was a sitting MP from Hassan at the time of the incident. The allegations and subsequent trial had already impacted his political career and caused turmoil within the JD(S) party.
With the High Court's latest order, the legal noose has tightened. The judiciary has sent a strong message by refusing to suspend the life term, emphasizing the gravity of the crime for which he was convicted. All eyes will now be on the proceedings of the main appeal, which will determine the finality of this protracted legal battle.
