Bengaluru: A Special Court for People’s Representatives in Bengaluru on Friday dismissed a second bail application filed by suspended JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, the prime accused in a high-profile rape and sexual abuse case linked to the circulation of over 2,000 obscene videos involving multiple women.
The court, presided over by Judge Santosh Gajanan Bhat, rejected Revanna’s plea, which was based on alleged delays in the trial proceedings. This marked Revanna’s second unsuccessful attempt to secure bail from the trial court.
Earlier, on July 9, Justice S R Krishna Kumar of the Karnataka High Court had advised Revanna to approach the lower court, offering him the option to return to the High Court depending on the outcome.
Acting on that direction, Revanna re-submitted his bail plea to the special court, which has now firmly denied it.
The charges stem from one of the four criminal cases registered against the former MP in 2024, after sexually explicit video clips allegedly depicting sexual abuse, voyeurism, and intimidation went viral on social media. The scandal triggered massive public outcry and political backlash.
The first complaint was filed by a woman who had worked as domestic help at Revanna’s farmhouse. She accused him of repeatedly raping her since 2021, threatening her with leaked videos to ensure silence.
In this particular case, charges have already been framed under IPC sections related to rape, criminal intimidation, voyeurism, and unlawful distribution of intimate images.
The court concluded arguments on July 18 and has reserved its final order for July 30, which could significantly impact Revanna’s legal and political trajectory.
