Prajwal Revanna, part of a prominent political lineage, was convicted amid a scandal involving explicit videos, marking a rare instance of accountability for influential figures in India.
**Prominent Indian Politician Sentenced to Life for Rape**
**Prominent Indian Politician Sentenced to Life for Rape**
A former MP from Karnataka receives a life sentence for the rape of a domestic employee.
In a landmark ruling, a court in Karnataka sentenced Prajwal Revanna, a former member of parliament, to life imprisonment after he was convicted of raping a former domestic staff member. The verdict, delivered on Saturday, comes just a day after the jury found the 34-year-old politician guilty of the serious charges against him.
Revanna hails from a powerful political family, being the grandson of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda. His conviction is notable in a country where such prominent figures often evade accountability for their actions. The allegations surfaced in 2023, igniting public outrage when explicit videos purported to involve Revanna circulated widely on social media. He consistently denied the allegations, asserting that the recordings were fabricated.
During his court appearance, Revanna exhibited intense emotion, breaking down as he pleaded for leniency following the guilty verdict. He retains the option to appeal the decision. Before his conviction, he left India for Germany in April 2024, using a diplomatic passport, amid escalating tensions around the scandal. He was apprehended upon his return to India a month later and is currently facing additional charges, including two other rape allegations and a separate case of sexual harassment. Revanna continues to deny all charges brought against him.
