The Prajwal Revanna video case stands as one of the most shocking political scandals in recent Indian history, culminating in the conviction of a sitting Member of Parliament for rape and sexual abuse. This case has not only exposed the dark underbelly of power abuse but has also demonstrated the judiciary’s commitment to delivering justice regardless of political connections. The former JD(S) MP, grandson of ex-Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, was convicted on August 1, 2025, marking a significant milestone in India’s fight against sexual crimes perpetrated by those in positions of authority.
Table of Contents
Origins and Timeline of the Prajwal Revanna Video Case
The Scandal Breaks Open
The Prajwal Revanna video case first came to light in the most dramatic fashion possible – just days before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka’s Hassan constituency. On April 26, 2024, thousands of pen drives containing explicit videos allegedly featuring Prajwal Revanna sexually abusing multiple women were mysteriously distributed across Hassan district. These pen drives appeared in stadiums, parks, bus stops, and other public spaces, containing what investigators would later determine to be over 2,976 videos showing sexual assault and abuse.
The timing of this revelation was particularly damaging, as Prajwal Revanna was the incumbent MP seeking re-election from Hassan, a seat traditionally controlled by the powerful Gowda family. Within hours of the videos surfacing, public outrage erupted across Karnataka, forcing immediate political and legal action.
Swift Political Response
The Karnataka State Commission for Women, led by chairperson Nagalakshmi Chowdhary, immediately took cognizance of the matter and wrote to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on April 28, 2024. This prompted the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to probe the allegations. The Prajwal Revanna video case had officially begun its journey through the legal system.
Sensing the gravity of the situation and potential arrest, Prajwal Revanna fled to Germany on April 27, 2024, using his diplomatic passport. This escape attempt only intensified the scandal, with the opposition Congress party demanding action from both the JD(S) and its ally BJP, questioning how such a serious offender was allowed to leave the country.
Legal Proceedings and Investigation
Formation of the Special Investigation Team
The SIT, headed by IPS officer B.K. Singh, faced the challenging task of investigating a case that relied heavily on digital evidence and victim testimonies. The Prajwal Revanna video case required sophisticated forensic analysis to establish the authenticity of the videos and identify the perpetrator, as most clips showed only hands and genitals rather than the accused’s face.
Investigators employed cutting-edge forensic techniques, including studies from Turkey and Japan that detailed how suspects could be identified through physical characteristics of genitals and body parts visible in the recordings. This breakthrough methodology became crucial in building a watertight case against Prajwal Revanna.
First Complaint and Arrest
The first formal complaint in the Prajwal Revanna video case was filed on April 28, 2024, by a 47-year-old domestic worker at the Holenarasipura Town Police Station in Hassan. She alleged that Prajwal Revanna had repeatedly raped her at his family’s Gannikada farmhouse and their Bangalore residence during 2021, recording these acts on his mobile phone and using the footage to threaten her into silence.
After remaining in Germany for over a month, Prajwal Revanna returned to India on May 31, 2024, and was immediately arrested at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport by the SIT. His requests for anticipatory bail had been rejected, and he was declared a “proclaimed offender” by the Karnataka police.
Comprehensive Chargesheet
In September 2024, the SIT filed a comprehensive 1,632-page chargesheet in the Prajwal Revanna video case, listing 113 witnesses and presenting over 180 documents as evidence. The chargesheet detailed charges under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including:
- Section 376(2)(k) – rape by a person in dominant position
- Section 376(2)(n) – repeatedly raping the same woman
- Sections 354A, 354B, 354C – sexual harassment, assault, voyeurism
- Section 506 – criminal intimidation
- Section 201 – causing disappearance of evidence
- Section 66E of IT Act – violation of privacy through intimate images
Forensic Evidence and Digital Analysis
Breakthrough in Digital Forensics
The Prajwal Revanna video case represented a landmark in digital forensic investigation in India. The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Bengaluru conducted extensive analysis of the seized videos and confirmed they were authentic, neither morphed nor digitally manipulated. This forensic verification was crucial in countering Prajwal Revanna’s claims that the videos had been doctored to frame him.
Investigators collected multiple forms of evidence including DNA samples from the victim’s preserved clothing, mobile phone records, call data analysis, and video evidence recorded by Prajwal himself. The victim had preserved a saree worn during one of the assaults, which tested positive for sperm, providing crucial biological evidence.
Matching Physical Characteristics
One of the most innovative aspects of the Prajwal Revanna video case investigation was the use of physical characteristic matching. A team of doctors examined Prajwal Revanna and documented his private organs through videos and photographs, which were then compared with those visible in the recorded assaults. This technique, similar to fingerprint analysis, provided definitive identification of the perpetrator.
Trial and Conviction
Swift Trial Process
The trial in the Prajwal Revanna video case commenced on December 31, 2024, before Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat of the Special Court for criminal cases against elected representatives. The proceedings moved at remarkable speed, examining 26 witnesses and reviewing key forensic science laboratory reports over seven months.
The court heard testimony from the victim under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code, examined digital evidence, and reviewed spot inspection reports from the crime scenes. Defense attempts to have Prajwal discharged from the case were rejected, with the court finding sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.
The Verdict
On August 1, 2025, exactly 14 months after the first complaint was filed, the court delivered its verdict in the Prajwal Revanna video case. Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat found Prajwal Revanna guilty on all charges, marking the first conviction among the four separate cases filed against him.
Prajwal Revanna, who was present in court, broke down emotionally upon hearing the verdict and was seen crying as he left the courtroom. No family members were present to support him during this crucial moment, highlighting his isolation from the very political dynasty that had once protected him.
Political Implications and Family Dynasty Impact
The Gowda Family Legacy
The Prajwal Revanna video case has severely damaged the reputation of one of Karnataka’s most powerful political dynasties. The Gowda family, led by former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, has dominated Hassan district politics for over four decades. Prajwal Revanna was being groomed as the third generation of the family to continue this political legacy.
The scandal has exposed deep fractures within the JD(S) party and raised questions about dynastic politics in Karnataka. Political analysts note that the family’s decline began when Deve Gowda handed over the Hassan Lok Sabha seat to Prajwal in 2019, breaking from his previous tight control over local politics.
Party Response and Suspension
Initially, the JD(S) leadership, including H.D. Kumaraswamy, attempted to defend Prajwal Revanna, calling the allegations a “conspiracy to spoil the family name”. However, as evidence mounted and public pressure increased, the party was forced to suspend Prajwal on May 2, 2024, pending completion of the SIT investigation.
The Prajwal Revanna video case also strained the JD(S)-BJP alliance, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah publicly stating that the BJP “cannot remain with those who commit atrocities against women”. This political distancing further isolated Prajwal and his family within Karnataka’s political landscape.
Electoral Consequences
The immediate political impact of the Prajwal Revanna video case was evident in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Despite being the incumbent MP and belonging to the dominant Gowda family, Prajwal Revanna suffered a humiliating defeat to Congress candidate Shreyas M. Patel by over 42,000 votes. This marked the end of the Gowda family’s control over Hassan constituency after decades of dominance.
Remaining Legal Challenges
Multiple Pending Cases
The conviction in the Prajwal Revanna video case represents only the first of four separate criminal cases against the former MP. Three additional cases remain under investigation and trial, involving different victims and similar allegations of sexual assault and abuse.
The second case involves a 44-year-old former member of the Hassan Zilla Panchayat who accused Prajwal of repeated rape. The third case pertains to the assault of a woman in her 60s from Mysuru who worked as domestic help. The fourth case involves allegations of sexual harassment during a video call, filed in Bengaluru in June 2024.
Sentencing and Appeals
The quantum of punishment in the Prajwal Revanna video case was scheduled to be announced on August 2, 2025. Under the sections he was convicted, Prajwal faces a minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, which could extend to life imprisonment for the most serious charges.
Legal experts expect the defense to challenge the conviction in higher courts, but the comprehensive nature of the evidence and the swift trial process have created a strong foundation for the prosecution’s case. The conviction serves as a precedent for similar cases involving powerful political figures accused of sexual crimes.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Prajwal Revanna Video Case
Q: What exactly is the Prajwal Revanna video case?
A: The Prajwal Revanna video case refers to multiple criminal cases filed against former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna for rape, sexual assault, and voyeurism. The case gained notoriety when thousands of explicit videos allegedly showing him abusing women were circulated in Hassan constituency before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Q: How many women have filed complaints in the Prajwal Revanna video case?
A: Four women have filed formal complaints in the Prajwal Revanna video case, including a domestic worker, a former Zilla Panchayat member, another domestic help from Mysuru, and a woman who alleged harassment during a video call. However, the circulated videos allegedly showed many more victims.
Q: What was the role of digital evidence in the Prajwal Revanna video case?
A: Digital evidence was crucial in the Prajwal Revanna video case. Forensic analysis confirmed the authenticity of over 2,976 videos, investigators used innovative techniques to match physical characteristics visible in the recordings with the accused, and mobile phone data provided additional corroborative evidence.
Q: Why did Prajwal Revanna flee to Germany during the investigation?
A: Prajwal Revanna fled to Germany on April 27, 2024, just as the Prajwal Revanna video case was breaking in the media. He used his diplomatic passport to leave the country, apparently to avoid arrest and investigation by the Special Investigation Team.
Q: What is the current status of the Prajwal Revanna video case?
A: As of August 2025, Prajwal Revanna has been convicted in the first of four cases and is awaiting sentencing. The Prajwal Revanna video case continues with three additional cases still under trial, and he remains in judicial custody at Bengaluru Central Prison.
Q: How has the Prajwal Revanna video case affected Karnataka politics?
A: The Prajwal Revanna video case has severely damaged the JD(S) party and the Gowda family’s political reputation. It led to Prajwal’s electoral defeat in 2024, his suspension from the party, and strained the JD(S)-BJP alliance. The case has raised important questions about accountability for powerful political figures.
Q: What makes the Prajwal Revanna video case significant for India’s justice system?
A: The Prajwal Revanna video case is significant because it demonstrates that no one is above the law, regardless of their political connections. The swift trial and conviction within 14 months, comprehensive forensic investigation, and use of cutting-edge technology in evidence gathering set important precedents for similar cases involving powerful individuals.
The Prajwal Revanna video case serves as a watershed moment in India’s ongoing battle against sexual crimes and abuse of power. While justice has been served in the first case, the remaining legal proceedings will continue to test the country’s commitment to ensuring that political privilege cannot shield perpetrators from accountability. The case has forever changed the political landscape of Hassan and Karnataka, marking the end of an era of unchecked dynastic power and the beginning of a new chapter where justice prevails over political influence.
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