Sexual assault Video case: HC stalls framing of charges against Prajwal Revanna

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, January 9, 2025: The Karnataka High Court on Thursday issued directions to stall the process of framing charges against Prajwal Revanna, the former Janata Dal (Secular) MP and grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, in the sensational sexual assault videos case.

A bench headed by Justice M. Nagaprasanna has passed an order in this regard and issued directions to the lower court not to frame charges against Revanna — who is lodged in Bengaluru Central Jail — until 16 January. Earlier, the date for framing of charges against him was fixed as 13 January. The bench passed the order while looking into a petition submitted by Revanna in this regard.

However, the bench has directed the trial court to continue the hearing of the case until 16 January.

In his petition, Revanna submitted a request for documents and electronic evidence in the form of photos and videos collected from his driver, who had allegedly copied the private videos and photos from Revanna’s personal cellphone. Additional special public prosecutor B.N. Jagadeesha submitted to the high court that pen drives and DVDs have already been provided to Revanna and he is now demanding the entire data and content found in the phone.

He further argued that the submission has been made by Revanna with the intention to delay the trial, while Revanna’s counsel submitted that he had not been provided with all reports. The bench in turn questioned why the content was needed, since the privacy of several women was involved.

The prosecution has charged Revanna under sections 354 (A) (sexual harassment), 354 (B) (assault or use of criminal force on a woman with an intent to disrobe her), 354 (C) (act of watching or capturing a woman’s image while she is engaging in a private act), 376 (2) (N) (aggravated form of rape committed by police officers and other public servants in charge, repeatedly raping same woman), 376 (2) (K) (being in position of control or dominance over a woman, committing rape), 506 (criminal intimidation), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) of the IPC (Indian Penal Code) and section 66 (E) of the IT Act.

The special investigation team (SIT) investigating the sexual assault videos case involving Revanna submitted a 1,691-page charge sheet to the special court for MLAs/MPs. The charge sheet had mentioned that the victim was raped at gunpoint. A video was made of the incident and the victim was repeatedly sexually assaulted under threat of making her videos public. It also mentioned that the victim had not dared lodge a complaint out of fear.