The rape case against suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna is an outcome of political vendetta, Revanna's counsel argued before the Karnataka High Court on Monday [Prajwal Revanna v. State Special Investigation Team].
A Division Bench of Justices KS Mudagal and Venkatesh Naik was hearing Revanna's appeal challenging a trial court's decision to convict and sentence him to life imprisonment in the rape case in which he is accused of repeatedly raping a domestic worker.
Representing Revanna, Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra said,
"Three years, this lady (rape survivor) is quiet. In a flurry ... all four cases come at the same time. It is political vendetta and nothing else."
In this regard, Luthra also referred to the manner in which the State has handled the investigation in a criminal case filed against Revanna's former driver.
The driver is among those accused of leaking certain sexually explicit videos, which eventually triggered the filing of four rape cases against Prajwal Revanna.
Luthra noted that the driver's plea for anticipatory bail was rejected in mid-2024. However, the police did not take any serious steps in the probe against him, Luthra said.
"Police are letting the man roam free, no investigation, the case is lying as it was. If this does not reek of political vendetta, I am asking myself what does?" he added.
Luthra also submitted that the investigation against Revanna was marred by procedural flaws and lapses on the part of the police.
He challenged the prosecution's theory that Revanna may have destroyed an Apple iPhone that had evidence, or left it abroad. He argued that the police did not issue a notice under Section 91 of the Code of Criminal Code (CrPC) to Revanna seeking the production of the phone.
He also questioned why the police did not try to get information about this phone from the phone's manufacturer based on its IMEI number.
Addressing the State's claim that Revanna has immense influence that he could have been misused to tamper with evidence, Luthra argued,
"The government in power in the State is not the (party) of which he (Revanna) is part. Government is Congress. He is JD(S). He and family do not have influence. When you say that people have helped him, I want to ask. Have you prosecuted anybody for destruction of evidence? No. There is no such charge! You can't make statements in thin air!"
In 2024, three rape cases and one sexual harassment case were filed against Prajwal Revanna. These cases were filed after over 2,900 videos depicting the sexual assault of several women were circulated online, including on social media.
The rape case being considered by the High Court was filed by a maid who was formerly employed by the Revanna family. In August this year, a trial court had found Prajwal Revanna guilty of the rape allegations levelled by her against him. The High Court will further hear Revanna's appeal against the trial court verdict on December 3.
The trials in the remaining criminal cases against Revanna are yet to conclude.
Revanna was arrested in May 2024 and has been in jail since.