The Special Court for MPs/MLAs in Bengaluru on August 1 pronounced ex-JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, guilty in the obscene video and rape case. The verdict was delivered by Judge Santhosh Gajanana Bhat. The court is scheduled to announce the quantum of punishment on Saturday.
As per the prosecution, the victim worked as a maid at a farmhouse owned by the Revanna family. It is claimed that from 2021, during the Covid 19 lockdown, Prajwal repeatedly raped the victim and filmed the assaults in different locations. He was under Judicial custody since SIT had arrested him on May 30, 2024. Prajwal Revanna is Grand son of JD(S) Supremo and former Prime Minister Deve Gowda.
From a golden kid to jail bird
Prajwal Revanna, once the golden child of Karnataka’s powerful Gowda family, now languishes in jail, his name synonymous with one of India’s most explosive political scandals. As the grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and son of JD(S) stalwart H.D. Revanna, Prajwal’s rapid rise and catastrophic fall—culminating in a rape conviction on August 1, 2025—have not only shattered his political career but also exposed the simmering tensions and intricate dynamics within the Gowda family. This saga, set against the backdrop of Karnataka’s cutthroat politics, reveals a dynasty grappling with ambition, rivalry, and the weight of its own legacy, captivating readers with a tale of power, betrayal, and justice.
Prajwal’s story begins in the heart of Hassan, a JD(S) stronghold where the Gowda family’s influence is near-mythical. Born on August 5, 1990, Prajwal was groomed for politics, carrying the weight of his grandfather’s legacy as a former Prime Minister and the JD(S) patriarch. His father, H.D. Revanna, a six-time MLA from Holenarasipura, and mother, Bhavani Revanna, a former Zilla Panchayat member, formed a formidable power couple in Hassan, often described as running the district like a fiefdom. The Indian Express notes that locals jokingly called Hassan the “Republic of Revanna,” a nod to the family’s iron grip, where “nothing gets done without their approval.” Prajwal’s uncle, H.D. Kumaraswamy, a former Karnataka Chief Minister, and his cousin Nikhil Kumaraswamy, an aspiring politician, complete this sprawling dynasty, but beneath the united front, cracks of rivalry and ambition run deep.
Prajwal’s political ascent was meteoric. In 2019, at 28, he won the Hassan Lok Sabha seat, becoming the sole JD(S) MP in the 17th Lok Sabha with 52.96% of the vote. The Hindu describes how his grandfather vacated the seat for him, a move that signaled Prajwal as Deve Gowda’s chosen heir, much to the chagrin of Kumaraswamy, who had his own son, Nikhil, eyeing the family’s political mantle. This decision ignited a family feud, with Bhavani Revanna, a fierce political operator, pushing aggressively for Prajwal’s prominence. The Indian Express reports that Bhavani, from a political family herself, was the “main driving force” behind Prajwal’s ambitions, often clashing with Kumaraswamy’s camp, which favored Nikhil. A former JD(S) worker lamented the “sense of insecurity” within the family, noting that “Kumaraswamy wants Nikhil to be the heir, and Bhavani wants Prajwal,” with H.D. Revanna caught in the middle, his influence overshadowed by his wife and brother. This internal rivalry set the stage for Prajwal’s reckless behavior. His outspoken nature had already raised eyebrows—when denied a ticket for the 2018 assembly elections, he lashed out at JD(S) for promoting a “suitcase culture,” a jab at Kumaraswamy that rattled the party. Deve Gowda himself warned that Prajwal’s “future does not seem bright” if he continued such outbursts, yet the patriarch’s favoritism persisted, securing Prajwal the 2019 ticket. As MP, Prajwal was criticized for being inaccessible, leaving constituency work to his father while failing to make a mark in Parliament. The News Minute paints him as an “arrogant” figure, emboldened by the family’s untouchable status in Hassan, where fear of their power silenced dissent. This arrogance, coupled with unchecked privilege, led to the catastrophic events of 2024.
The scandal broke in April 2024, when 2,976 explicit videos and photos, allegedly recorded by Prajwal, surfaced on pen drives in Hassan, depicting sexual assaults on women, including a domestic worker and a Zilla Panchayat member. The Hindu details how the videos, circulated days before the April 26 Lok Sabha polls, sparked outrage, with victims alleging coercion and blackmail. Prajwal’s mother, Bhavani, emerges as a pivotal figure here. The Print reveals that in 2022, Prajwal’s former driver, Karthik, sent Bhavani a video of her son’s exploits, leading to a heated confrontation. Yet, instead of curbing Prajwal, the family’s response was to investigate the leak, suggesting a protective instinct that prioritized reputation over accountability. Prajwal fled to Germany on April 27, only returning on May 31, 2024 after Deve Gowda’s public ultimatum: “Surrender or face my anger.” His arrest followed, and the SIT charged him with three rape cases and one sexual harassment case.
The family’s reaction to the scandal laid bare its fractures. Deve Gowda, at 92, broke his silence, expressing “shock and pain” and supporting “the harshest punishment” if Prajwal was guilty, but he dismissed charges against H.D. Revanna as “created.” Kumaraswamy distanced JD(S) from Prajwal, suspending him and accusing Congress of leaking the videos, while privately opposing Prajwal’s 2024 candidacy, a battle he lost to Bhavani’s influence. H.D. Revanna, arrested in a related kidnapping case but later bailed, remained a loyal but subdued figure, while Bhavani, also on bail, is reportedly absconding. The family’s clout in Hassan, however, endures—posters of Deve Gowda, Revanna, Bhavani, and their sons, including Prajwal, still adorn the district, signaling their defiance.
Prajwal’s conviction on August 1, for raping a 48-year-old former domestic worker marks a turning point. Scroll.in notes that the “immense power” of the Gowdas created an “atmosphere of fear” in Hassan, allowing Prajwal to act with impunity until public outrage forced accountability. As Prajwal awaits sentencing, the Gowda dynasty stands at a crossroads, its legacy tarnished but its grip on Hassan unbroken, leaving readers hooked on a story of power, scandal, and a family unraveling under the weight of its own ambitions.
Connect with us at mystory@aawaazuthao.com