Karnataka High Court Rejects Prajwal Revanna’s Plea to Suspend Life Sentence

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday declined to suspend the life sentence awarded to former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna in one of the four rape cases registered against him. A division bench of Justice K S Mudagal and Justice Venkatesh Naik T held that the gravity of the offences, multiple pending cases, and the likelihood of witness intimidation made his plea unfit for consideration.

The court noted that Revanna had been denied bail even during the trial, and the survivor had delayed reporting the assault due to his political influence. Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra, appearing for Revanna, argued that the conviction relied on weak and improperly assessed electronic evidence, highlighted delays in filing the FIR, and alleged procedural lapses in forensic analysis. He claimed that the defence was not provided adequate opportunity to seek a reduced sentence and termed the case a result of political vendetta.

Special Public Prosecutor Ravivarma Kumar opposed the plea, saying bail would pose a threat to the survivor and witnesses, citing earlier abduction attempts. He stressed that the offences were repeated, serious, and committed against a vulnerable household worker during the lockdown, and that Revanna had allegedly withheld his mobile phone. Kumar added that post-conviction, the legal norm is “jail is the rule, not bail”, and the survivor’s testimony alone was sufficient to uphold guilt.

The bench observed that most defence arguments pertained to the merits of the appeal, which would be examined during the final hearing. The appeal has been listed for January 12, 2026.

Revanna currently faces four separate criminal cases, including allegations by former household workers and local women who accused him of sexual assault, harassment, and intimidation. The SIT has filed multiple charge sheets supported by video evidence, forensic reports, and survivor testimonies, making the legal battle increasingly complex for the former MP.