Former Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna could have been sentenced to life in jail however the lady he sexually assaulted and her household stay traumatised, fearful and uprooted from their properties, her son-in-law informed The Indian Categorical hours after the courtroom judgement.
“After the traumatic cross-examinations, regardless of assurances from police, we didn’t have any hope that justice could be served due to the affect Prajwal Revanna’s household has,” stated the son-in-law. “We bought justice however the trauma and concern will proceed to hang-out us.”
The previous JD(S) chief, 34, is the grandson of former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and the son of the previous Karnataka minister H D Revanna. A particular courtroom for elected representatives in Bengaluru on Saturday sentenced him to life imprisonment in one in every of 4 instances of rape and sexual harassment registered towards him in 2024.
The person stated his mother-in legislation, a former home employee at a farmhouse that belongs to Prajwal’s household, broke down many occasions throughout the cross-examination due to the questions thrown at her. “Nonetheless, she remained robust and gave a press release earlier than the courtroom.”
The investigation group’s chief BK Singh, too, hailed her resolve, saying on Saturday: “The survivor stood like a rock. The defence tried each doable strategy to derail the courtroom proceedings, however she stood robust and even when she was cross-examined for eight hours.”
Unable to dwell in her village, which confirmed little empathy, the lady is now working in Bengaluru. It was an SIT official who helped her get the job within the metropolis.
The son-in-law, a carpenter who additionally lives at a special place now, stated his household was involved about their security. “Even to today we dwell in concern. After the judgment was introduced, one SIT officer referred to as me and stated to not reveal my whereabouts with anybody. For over a 12 months, we now have adopted what SIT police informed us to do and we are going to proceed to take action,” he stated.
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“She could not be capable to return again to her residence. Within the final one 12 months, she visited solely as soon as to the village (in Mysuru district) however stayed for a quick time. The village is but to just accept her because the sufferer and present empathy. We felt outcast within the village. There have been additionally numerous rumours that have been being unfold,” he stated.
The son-in-law praised the SIT for backing the lady. “Initially, I had filed a kidnap grievance however later the SIT took her in. They instilled religion, offered her safety and gave hopes to rebuild our lives. If not, our lives would have been tragic, given the background of Prajwal Revanna, particularly in our (Hassan and Mysuru districts) area.”
Prajwal has been in jail since Could 31, 2024, when he was arrested on his return from Germany, the place he had fled following the emergence of express movies of sexual assaults on ladies. The movies, allegedly recorded by him on his cell phone, have been leaked forward of the April 26, 2024, Parliament election in Hassan, the place Prajwal was the candidate for the JDS-BJP alliance.
The person recalled that the video of the assault got here as a shock for the household. “She was taking good care of eldest daughter who had delivered a child 5 months in the past and the video went viral only a day after my spouse delivered the child. It’s nonetheless arduous to course of.”
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“She stayed for a few months within the village after the case as there was a police safety offered to her and to the members of the home. But it surely turned arduous as she wanted to work for her livelihood. Then, I took her to a SIT police officer who helped to get a job and shelter in Bengaluru,” the son-in-law stated.
When the sufferer thought she was the accused
The sufferer was initially unaware of the SIT’s probe into the movies. She was, in reality, planning to run after getting a name that informed her she was a suspect in a pretend voting case.
4 days later, she got here to know that the video of her rape had come into public area. In her household, her son-in-law was the primary to learn. “Certainly one of my kin despatched the video and I used to be in impolite shock. Instantly, I referred to as her after which knowledgeable KR Nagar police. By then SIT additionally got here to know her whereabouts after which they took her to Bengaluru,” he stated.
The SIT in its cost sheet had named 26 witnesses, 180 paperwork and lots of items of proof together with FSL studies.