Prominent Indian Politician Sentenced to Life for Rape of Domestic Staff

A court in Karnataka has sentenced Prajwal Revanna, a notable politician from an influential family, to life in prison after he was found guilty of raping a former domestic worker. The sentencing, which occurred on a Saturday shortly after his conviction, marks a significant moment in India's handling of sexual assault cases involving prominent figures. The charges against Revanna emerged in 2023 when explicit videos purportedly featuring him began circulating on social media, triggering widespread public outrage.

Revanna, 34, refuted the allegations, maintaining his innocence throughout the proceedings. After being convicted, he was visibly emotional and requested a lighter sentence, but the court upheld its ruling. He is eligible to appeal the decision. Notably, Revanna is the grandson of H. D. Deve Gowda, a former Prime Minister of India and current leader of the Janata Dal (Secular) party—an ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Such severe legal repercussions for someone with Revanna's political lineage are rare in India.

Following the surfacing of the explicit videos, Revanna left the country using his diplomatic passport in April 2024. Although he refrained from addressing the allegations directly, his office claimed the videos were manipulated. His return to India a month later led to immediate arrest, and he now faces additional charges involving two other rape cases and a separate case of sexual harassment, all of which he continues to deny.