Karnataka High Court rejects 3 bail pleas by Prajwal Revanna in rape case

JD(S) had suspended him from the party following the cases filed against him.

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Monday rejected three bail petitions filed by Prajwal Revanna, former MP from Hassan constituency, in connection with criminal cases registered against him alleging sexual harassment and rape. Prajwal had sought regular bail in the case registered by the Holenarasipura Town Police and anticipatory bail in three other cases registered by the CID, SIT.

“Prima facie, the alleged acts of the petitioner depicts wanton lust, depravity of senses, and has a chilling effect down the spine of the society,” Justice M Nagaprasanna observed while dismissing an anticipatory bail petition.

In this case, the court noticed the FSL report that the comparison of respective voices of both the petitioner and the complainant matched.

“If the complaint and the findings of FSL are considered, it would prima facie indicate all the three being met. The petitioner disrobing the woman; trying to outrage her modesty as per the videos and indulging in sexual harassment, meet the ingredients of voyeurism as well, as obtaining under Section 354-C of the IPC,” the court said.

In this case, the victim, who used to work as a maid at the house of the accused, was sexually assaulted not only at Gannikada house in Holenarasipura, but even in Bengaluru. The court cited Apex Court judgement and said that all the eight postulates for considering an application for grant of bail run against the petitioner for denial of bail.

“There are reasons to believe albeit, prima facie, that the petitioner has committed the offence. Danger of the accused absconding or fleeing on bail is writ large, as the petitioner did not cooperate with investigation, sitting in Germany for more than 35 days after the registration of the crime. Therefore, the risk of him fleeing the country looms large. The allegation is that most of the accused in the entire episode of crime have allegedly indulged in threatening the witnesses. It cannot be ruled out in the case of the petitioner, if he is released on bail,” Justice Nagaprasanna said.

In the other case, the allegation is that Prajwal had taken the mobile number of the victim and used to call her from different numbers. He had also threatened and asked her to disrobe herself and get naked in a video call.

“Though the offence punishable in the case at hand is not one of rape, but it is outraging the modesty of a woman. The complaint averments indicate that the petitioner on several occasions forced or sought to unleash his carnal desire. The statements recorded by the police and the Magistrate, which form part of the charge sheet now filed, would not ensure to the benefit of the petitioner for grant of anticipatory bail,” the court said.

Days before the Parliamentary Elections, 2024, certain videos of Prajwal Revanna allegedly indulging in sexual acts, with and over several women had surfaced and circulated. After this, complaints were filed against Prajwal Revanna, his parents HD Revanna and Bhavani Revanna.

The court while rejecting one of the petitions observed that Prajwal had instituted a suit, one year prior to registration of these cases, seeking grant of injunction against circulating any defamatory images, video footage involving him. “Therefore, it is not that the petitioner was for the first time alleged to have got into such acts. The apprehension of circulation of all the aforesaid acts loomed large prior to registration of the crime,” the court said.