A special court in Bengaluru designated for cases involving elected representatives delivered a significant verdict on Monday, discharging former minister and Holenarasipur MLA HD Revanna from charges of sexual harassment. The allegations were made by a woman employed at his farmhouse in Gannikada, Hassan district.
The Court's Decision and Legal Reasoning
The special judge, after examining the case details, concluded that it was not fit to condone the delay in lodging the complaint. The case was formally registered in early 2024 at the Holenarasipur Town police station, though the alleged incidents were said to have occurred between 2019 and 2022.
In the court's observation, the judge stated, "This is not a fit case to condone the delay in lodging complaint or initiation of proceedings in respect of an offence punishable under Section 354A (sexual harassment) of IPC against Revanna. Accordingly, this court has declined to take cognisance of the offence against him. As such, the accused is discharged from the offence alleged under Section 354A of IPC."
Charges Framed and Quashed
Initially, Revanna faced charges under two sections of the Indian Penal Code: IPC Section 354 (Outraging the modesty of a woman) and IPC Section 354A (sexual harassment). In a prior development, the High Court had already quashed the charges under IPC 354. The special court was specifically directed to examine the merits of the case framed under Section 354A, which led to Monday's decision to discharge the accused.
Broader Case Involving Prajwal Revanna
This case is intricately linked to a more serious allegation. HD Revanna's son, Prajwal Revanna, is charged with rape in the same matter. The woman's complaint implicated both father and son. While the former minister has been discharged from the harassment charges, the trial against Prajwal Revanna for the rape charge is yet to commence. This separation of legal outcomes for the two accused highlights the distinct judicial scrutiny applied to each set of allegations.
The court's ruling brings a closure to one segment of a politically sensitive case that has drawn considerable public attention. The focus now shifts to the pending proceedings against Prajwal Revanna, as the legal process continues to unfold.
