Rape and punishment, pg 10.

Key Highlights:

• Former MP Prajwal Revanna convicted in a 2021 rape case involving a 48-year-old domestic worker.
• The Special Court for MPs and MLAs sentenced him to life imprisonment on August 1, 2025.
• Conviction based on video evidence, DNA reports, and the victim’s testimony.
• He was convicted under IPC Sections 376(2)(n), 506, 201, and 66E of the IT Act.
• Explicit videos leaked in April 2024 triggered public outcry before the general elections.
• SIT formed post-leak led to his arrest in May 2024; first chargesheet filed in August 2024.
• Allegations of victim intimidation and political shielding by his family were noted.

Detailed Insights:

• Prajwal Revanna, grandson of former PM H.D. Deve Gowda, was among the politically powerful figures facing serious criminal allegations.
• First conviction among four ongoing cases signals judicial responsiveness in politically sensitive matters.
• The Special Court setup under the SC’s directive for fast-tracking cases against elected representatives played a key role in delivering justice.
• The case highlights challenges in securing convictions when victims face pressure from politically influential accused.
• The use of forensic and digital evidence proved pivotal in substantiating the charges.
• This conviction reinforces the need for institutional safeguards to protect witnesses and survivors, especially in high-profile cases.
• The episode underlines the need for clean political representation and stronger mechanisms to prevent criminalisation of politics.

Concepts Involved:

• DNA Analysis: A forensic technique used to match biological evidence with suspects.
• Section 66E of the IT Act, 2000: Penalises the intentional capture or publication of images violating privacy.
• Section 376(2)(n) IPC: Deals with repeated rape by the same individual, punishable with rigorous imprisonment of not less than 10 years, extendable to life.