Prajwal Revanna life sentence: Got justice but we live still in fear, says kin of victim
Bengaluru: While former Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the sexual assault of a woman, the victim and her family continue to live in fear and trauma, still reeling from the emotional and psychological toll of the ordeal.
The victim’s son-in-law spoke out about the ongoing challenges, recalling how, despite the victim’s brave testimony and the eventual conviction, the family’s hope for justice had been overshadowed by the pressure from Revanna’s influential family. “After the traumatic cross-examinations, despite assurances from police, we didn’t have much hope that justice would be served due to the influence Prajwal Revanna’s family wields. We got justice, but the trauma and fear will continue to haunt us,” The Indian Express quoted him as saying.
Prajwal Revanna, the grandson of former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda and son of H.D. Revanna, a former Karnataka minister, was sentenced to life imprisonment for one of four rape and sexual harassment cases filed against him in 2024.
The victim, a former domestic worker at a farmhouse owned by Prajwal’s family, had endured intense cross-examinations during the trial. According to her son-in-law, she broke down multiple times under questioning but remained resolute in her testimony. "She stood strong and gave her statement in court," he said.
The investigation team’s chief, BK Singh, also praised the victim’s courage, stating, “The survivor stood like a rock. The defence tried every possible way to derail the court proceedings, but she stood strong and even when she was cross-examined for eight hours.”
Due to a lack of support in her village, the victim, who is now living in Bengaluru, has been forced to rebuild her life far from home. An SIT official assisted her in finding work in the city. However, the family’s safety remains a major concern, with the son-in-law revealing that they still live in constant fear. “Even to this day we live in fear. After the judgment was announced, one SIT officer called me and said to not reveal my whereabouts with anyone. For over a year, we have followed what SIT police told us to do and we will continue to do so,” TIE quoted him as saying said.
The victim has not been able to return to her village, located in Mysuru district, for long. She visited once over the past year, but her stay was brief, and she continues to feel ostracized. “We felt outcast in the village. There were also a lot of rumours that were being spread,” he added.
Despite the hardships, the victim’s kin expressed gratitude for the SIT’s support, noting that without the SIT's protection, their lives could have taken a far more tragic course, especially given Prajwal Revanna’s influence in the regions of Hassan and Mysuru.
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Smriti Mandhana named BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year for 2025
New Delhi (PTI): Star batter Smriti Mandhana, who played a pivotal role in India's historic 2025 Women's World Cup triumph, was named the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year for 2025 at a glittering function here on Monday.
Chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh won the Emerging Player of the Year award, for her historic FIDE Women's World Cup triumph at just 20.
Preethi Pal was named the Para-Sportswoman of the Year, for winning two bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Paralympics in track and field, while Anjali Bhagwat was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising her pioneering career as India's first woman shooter to reach an Olympic final and her trailblazing success on the world stage.
Mandhana, who is currently touring Australia with the Indian team for multi-format bilateral assignments, said in a video message: "Thank you BBC for giving me the awardfor Best Sportswoman of the Year. 2025 was a special year for women's cricket, especiallytowards the end we had a World Cup and I'm happy I could contribute and help India win matches.".
At 29, the left-handed batter is already among the game's greats, with the second-highest number of centuries in women's One Day Internationals and ranking third in total runsscored among current players worldwide.
Hailing from Sangli city in Maharashtra, the affable Mandhana was inspired by her father and brother, both of whom played cricket at the district level.
In September last year, she made a 50-ball hundred against Australia – the fastest 50 over international ton (men and women) by an Indian in the format, breaking Virat Kohli's record.
The award winners were decided by a distinguished grand jury comprising Leander Paes, Deepa Malik, and Anju Bobby George.
Praising the athletes' achievements CEO of BBC News, Jonathan Munro said: "Congratulations to this year's winners who showcase the very best in sporting excellence. The BBC World Service is committed to bringing such stories of human endeavour and outstanding success to audiences across India and around the world.".
Additionally, the ceremony also celebrated a wide spectrum of talent and impact, recognizing star performers and changemakers for redefining the landscape of Indian sport.
BBC Star Performers of the Year 202.
• Indian Women's Cricket Team: for their historic World Cup victory.
• Ekta Bhyan, Deepthi Jeevanji and Preethi Pal: for their trailblazing performances at the World Para Athletics Championship.
• Indian Women's Cricket Team for the Blind: for their inspiring World Cup victory.
• Indian Women's Kabaddi Team: for their smashing victory in World Cup.
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BBC Changemakers of the Year 202.
• Indian Women's Ice Hockey Team: for breaking barriers in a non-traditional sport.
• Rajbir Kaur: Indian field hockey player and former captain of the women’s national team.
• Savita Punia: Indian field hockey player and current member of the national team.
• Paani Devi: recognised for her impactful contribution to grassroots sport.
