Suspended JD(S) Leader Prajwal Revanna Sentenced to Life in Prison

Prajwal Revanna, a suspended leader of the Janata Dal (Secular) and grandson of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, has been sentenced to life imprisonment following his conviction in a rape case. The verdict, delivered by the Special Court for MPs/MLAs Judge Santosh Gajanan Bhat, marks the culmination of a legal battle involving four sexual abuse and rape charges against Revanna.

He was taken into custody and assigned a prisoner number at Bengaluru's Parappana Agrahara Central prison. It was a tough first night for Revanna, as jail authorities noted he appeared visibly distressed and shed tears during a health assessment conducted by prison doctors. He has communicated to prison staff his intention to challenge the verdict in the High Court.

Revanna's conviction involved multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code and IT Act, including charges of repeated rape, sexual harassment, and criminal intimidation. The court imposed a life sentence that effectively means he will remain incarcerated for the rest of his natural life, in addition to substantial fines that prioritize compensating the victim.

(With inputs from agencies.)