Karnataka HC to hold in-camera hearing on bail pleas of Prajwal Revanna in sexual assault case
Bengaluru, Sep 9: The Karnataka High Court on Monday decided to hear in-camera the bail and anticipatory bail applications submitted by former MP Prajwal Revanna, who is facing charges of rape and sexual assault.
A single judge bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna stated: "This will be heard in-camera, it cannot be heard in open court. We will secure the order and do it (hear in-camera). It should not be that any person is put to ignominy at any cost."
The move to conduct the hearing privately followed a request from Special Public Prosecutor Professor Ravivarma Kumar, who had previously urged that the matter be heard in-camera to safeguard the identity of the victim.
During the latest hearing, the court was informed that a chargesheet had been filed against Revanna in a special court, and a copy was submitted to the High Court.
Revanna is currently under judicial custody at Parappana Agrahara Jail here, and a Special Investigation Team is probing four separate cases against him.
He was arrested by the SIT on May 31 upon arrival at Bengaluru Airport from Germany in connection with a case registered at the Holenarasipura Town Police Station. He was remanded to custody the following day.
Revanna's bail application relates to this case, while his anticipatory bail plea is in connection with a separate case registered by the SIT here.
Revanna had failed in his bid to retain the Hassan parliamentary constituency in the recent polls.
The cases of sexual abuse came to light after pen-drives containing explicit videos allegedly involving Prajwal Revanna were reportedly circulated in Hassan, ahead of Lok Sabha polls there on April 26.
JD(S) suspended him from the party following the cases filed against him.
In the first case registered against him at the Holenarasipura Town police station in Hassan on April 28, Revanna is accused of sexually harassing a 47-year-old former maid. He is listed as accused number two, while his father and local MLA, H D Revanna, is the primary accused.
The second case against Prajwal Revanna was filed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on May 1 after a 44-year-old former member of the Hassan Zilla Panchayat accused him of repeatedly raping her.
The third case pertains to rape of a woman in her 60s from Mysuru's K R Nagara, who was also a domestic help. The victim's son had initially filed a kidnap case, alleging abduction of his mother, at the K R Nagar police station on May 2. In this kidnap case, the SIT had arrested H D Revanna, who is currently out on bail, and had questioned Prajwal's mother Bhavani Revanna, who has got anticipatory bail.
The fourth case was registered against Prajwal Revanna, accusing him of sexual harassment, on June 12 at cyber crime police station of CID in Bengaluru. In this case he has been booked for sexual harassment, stalking and criminal intimidation, and violation of privacy of IT Act. The complainant in this case is a woman, who was allegedly sexually harassed over a video call.
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Meghalaya rolls out centralised PF for 30,000 teachers
Shillong (PTI): The Meghalaya government has rolled out a centralised provident fund scheme aimed at extending pension and social security benefits to more than 30,000 employees of non-government schools and colleges, officials said on Monday.
The "Meghalaya Non-Government School and College Employees Centralised Provident Fund Scheme, 2026" seeks to bring a wide range of employees, which includes deficit teachers and lecturers, adhoc teachers, SSA and RMSA teachers, Hindi and Science Grant teachers, pre-primary teachers, and non-teaching staff, all under a unified and professionally managed framework, they said.
"The scheme represents a significant and progressive reform as it extends structured provident fund and pension benefits to a wide spectrum of employees in the education sector," the Education department said in a press note.
"By bringing all such categories under a single framework, the scheme aims to promote equity, transparency and sustainability," it added.
Officials said a large number of employees have responded positively to the initiative, and the process of opening Permanent Retirement Account Numbers (PRANs) has already commenced in several parts of the state.
"It is encouraging to note that many employees have come forward to enrol under the scheme, and the PRAN generation process is underway in multiple districts," the statement said.
However, concerns have been raised by certain sections of employees, particularly from deficit institutions, over aspects of the scheme. The matter is currently sub judice before the High Court of Meghalaya, officials said.
"The government has already placed the notified scheme before the Hon'ble High Court and is awaiting its decision," the department said.
Reiterating its commitment to addressing concerns, the government said it has invited representatives of the concerned organisations for discussions.
"The Education Department has called a meeting with representatives of stakeholders on May 6 at 3 pm in the Main Conference Hall, Secretariat, to better understand their issues and explore possible resolutions," the statement said.
"The government remains committed to safeguarding the interests and welfare of all teachers and employees, and to ensuring that the implementation of the scheme is carried out in a fair, transparent and inclusive manner," it added.
