Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Dec 3: Former Hassan Lok Sabha MP Prajwal Revanna has suffered a major setback in his bid to secure bail after being sentenced to life imprisonment in a shocking assault case. The Karnataka High Court has dismissed his plea seeking to stay the sentence and grant him interim release.
The divisional bench of Justices K S Mudgal and T Venkatesh Naik pronounced the verdict on December 3, making it clear that Revanna will not be released from jail at this stage.
The case dates back to August 2025, when the Special Court for Representatives (Sessions Court) in Hassan found Revanna guilty of a serious assault on a domestic worker.
The court convicted him under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, sentencing him to life imprisonment and imposing a fine exceeding Rs 11 lac, a significant portion of which was ordered to be paid as compensation to the victim.
Following the Sessions Court’s verdict, Revanna had filed a criminal appeal with the High Court and simultaneously sought bail, arguing that he should be released pending the appeal hearing.
Senior advocates representing him highlighted alleged contradictions in the victim’s statements, gaps in evidence, and procedural lapses such as the non-seizure of mobile phones. They argued vigorously that these discrepancies warranted suspending the sentence.
However, the High Court bench, noting the gravity of the offence and the strong evidence considered by the Sessions Court, rejected the bail application, effectively keeping Revanna in custody.
“This is a serious case, and considering the nature of the crime and the evidence presented, the bail plea cannot be granted at this stage,” the bench ruled.
As a result, Revanna will remain imprisoned while the criminal appeal against his life sentence proceeds. Legal experts note that if the High Court upholds the Sessions Court verdict, Revanna’s only remaining recourse would be to move the Supreme Court.
The High Court’s decision has already sparked intense debate in Karnataka’s political circles, given Revanna’s prominent political profile. The next hearing in the appeal process is expected to be closely watched.