HC seeks update from State on appointment of Special PP in Prajwal Revanna’s conviction appeal
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has directed the State government to clarify whether a Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) has been appointed to argue on behalf of the government in the appeal filed by former MP Prajwal Revanna, who has challenged his life sentence in a rape case involving his domestic worker.
A division bench comprising Justice K.S. Mudagal and Justice T. Venkatesh Naik issued the direction during the hearing held on Thursday. The bench also adjourned the matter to October 28 for further proceedings.
Government counsel informed the court that an SPP had been appointed during the trial proceedings before the Special Court for People’s Representatives. However, it was yet to be confirmed whether a similar appointment had been made for the appeal hearing. The High Court then instructed the State counsel to obtain this information and submit it in the next hearing.
The court also asked Revanna’s defence counsel to provide a comprehensive summary of the appeal.
In his appeal, Prajwal Revanna has alleged inconsistencies between the victim’s complaint and her testimony, claiming that the complaint was obtained under coercion by the police. He stated that after the incident came to light, police arrived at his Gannigad farm house, and seeing them, the victim panicked and fled. Later, she was allegedly taken to the SIT office in Bengaluru and pressured into filing the complaint, the appeal argues.
Revanna also questioned the reliability of physical evidence presented in court. He pointed out that stains allegedly found on a bed sheet three years after the incident could not be credible, arguing that it was “impossible for the cloth to remain unwashed for so long.”
He further claimed that during an inspection of the Gannigad farmhouse on May 28, 2024, investigators seized clothes and strands of hair without the victim being present, calling the seizure a serious procedural lapse lacking legal validity.
The defence also raised doubts about forensic findings of semen stains, questioning how such traces could remain in a locked room that had not been opened for three years, as stated by a prosecution witness.
On August 2, 2024, the Special Court for People’s Representatives in Bengaluru, presided over by Judge Santosh Gajanan Bhatt, convicted Prajwal Revanna of multiple offences, including rape and criminal intimidation, and awarded him life imprisonment along with fines totalling Rs 11.60 lakh.
Under IPC Section 376(2)(k) (rape by a person in a position of authority) and Section 376(2)(n) (repeated rape), he was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Rs 5 lakh each.
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Shivakumar opposes ‘One Nation One Election’, calls it ‘unworkable’
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday strongly opposed the central government’s proposed ‘One Nation One Election’ initiative.
Shivakumar expressed his views at a dialogue on ‘One Nation One Election’ organised by the Joint Parliamentary Study Committee.
He said the plan is a politically motivated, power-centralising scheme that would seriously damage India’s federal structure by weakening states and poses a threat to the democratic system, according to a statement from his office.
As KPCC president and deputy CM of Karnataka, he categorically rejected the proposal, stating that it is being crafted to suit the convenience of those in power at the Centre.
Shivakumar said that the Karnataka Legislative Assembly had already passed a resolution opposing ‘One Nation One Election’ and read out the resolution at the meeting.
He firmly stated that it is “not a workable plan” and added that it is “practically impossible.”
“If a government falls midterm due to political instability, a no-confidence motion, or loss of majority, what is the solution?” he asked.
“Elections are held at different times in different states for different terms. Karnataka had its election in 2023, while Tamil Nadu and Kerala had theirs in 2021, and Punjab and Telangana in 2022 and 2023, respectively. How can these elections with varying schedules be synchronised?” he asked.
He added that the proposal is a ploy to suppress the voices of regional and Opposition parties.
He also said the Karnataka government does not agree with the proposal and remains committed to the position of the Congress party’s national leadership.
