Prajwal Revanna moves trial court for bail in rape case

Suspended Janata Dal (Secular) leader Prajwal Revanna has approached a special court hearing cases against legislators a second time for bail in the rape case against him.

Revanna had failed to get bail in his first round of litigation, following which he had recently approached the High Court for bail citing a change in circumstances due to a delay in the trial against him.

On July 9, Justice SR Krishna Kumar asked Revanna to approach the trial court.

He added that Revanna is at liberty to re-approach the High Court if needed, after the trial court decides on his bail plea.

On a request by Revanna's counsel, the High Court also directed the trial court to decide on Revanna's new bail plea within ten days after it is filed.

Accordingly, Revanna has now moved the special court for bail.

Revanna is the main accused in four cases registered after over 2,900 clips depicting the sexual assault of several women were circulated online, including on social media.

The first of such cases was filed in April last year by a domestic help who used to be employed at the Revanna family's farmhouse. She accused Prajwal Revanna of repeatedly raping her and threatening to leak visuals of the assault if she were to speak out about the rape, the first of such incidents allegedly having taken place in 2021.

A trial court in Bengaluru framed various criminal charges against Revanna in the matter, including for rape, voyeurism, criminal intimidation and unauthorised circulation of private images.

On July 18, the court also reserved its verdict in the trial. The same is slated to be pronounced on July 30.