Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra for Revanna contended, "It is political vendetta and nothing else."
Prajwal Revanna's attorney contended before the Karnataka High Court on Monday that the rape case against the suspended JD(S) leader is the result of a political grudge [Prajwal Revanna v. State Special Investigation Team].
Revanna was appealing a trial court's decision to condemn him and sentence him to life in prison in a rape case in which he is accused of repeatedly raping a domestic helper. The appeal was being heard by a Division Bench of Justices KS Mudagal and Venkatesh Naik.
Representing Revanna, Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra said,
"This woman, a rape survivor, has been silent for three years. All four cases arrive simultaneously in a frenzy. It is political vendetta and nothing else."
In this regard, Luthra also referred to the manner in which the State has conducted the investigation in a criminal case filed against Revanna's former chauffeur.
Four rape cases were filed against Prajwal Revanna as a result of the driver's alleged disclosure of certain sexually explicit videos.
The driver's request for anticipatory bail was denied in the middle of 2024, according to Luthra. But according to Luthra, the police did not take any significant action in the investigation against him.
"The case is lying as it was, the police are not conducting an investigation, and the man is free to roam." If this doesn't smell like a political grudge, then what does? He continued.
Luthra also argued that the police's shortcomings and procedural errors tainted the investigation against Revanna.
He opposed the prosecution's premise that Revanna may have destroyed an Apple iPhone that carried evidence, or left it abroad. He contended that Revanna did not get a notice from the police requesting the production of the phone under Section 91 of the Code of Criminal Code (CrPC).
Additionally, he questioned why the police did not attempt to use the phone's IMEI number to obtain information about it from the manufacturer.
Luthra responded to the State's assertion that Revanna's enormous influence may have been abused to tamper with evidence by saying,
"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. I have a question when you mention that others have assisted him. Have you brought charges against anyone for destroying evidence? No. Such a fee does not exist! You can't make statements in thin air!"
In 2024, three rape charges and one sexual harassment case were filed against Prajwal Revanna. These cases were brought after over 2,900 films depicting the sexual assault of multiple women were shared online, particularly on social media.
The rape complaint being heard by the High Court was submitted by a maid who was once employed by the Revanna family. In August this year, a trial court had declared Prajwal Revanna guilty of the rape claims brought by her against him. The High Court will further hear Revanna's appeal against the trial court ruling on December 3.
The remaining criminal cases against Revanna are still before trial.
Revanna was caught in May 2024 and has been in jail since
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