The Karnataka High Court on Friday clarified that there is no impediment to continue the trial against suspended Janata Dal (Secular) leader Prajwal Revanna in a case involving allegations that he had raped a domestic worker.
This case is one of four criminal cases in which Prajwal Revanna has been booked after over 2,900 clips depicting the sexual assault of several women were circulated online, including on social media.
The High Court had earlier stayed criminal proceedings against Prajwal Revanna's father and JD(S) leader HD Revanna, who is also a co-accused in the case involving allegations that a domestic worker was kidnapped and raped.
HD Revanna faces two criminal cases, one involving allegations of sexual assault and the other involving allegations of kidnapping. He was granted bail in both cases on May 13, 2024.
In August last year, the High Court ordered the trial court not to record further proceedings in the sexual assault case till the next date on which his quashing petition would be heard by the High Court. This interim order has been extended from time to time.
Justice SR Krishna Kumar today clarified that this stay order is limited to the trial against HD Revanna, and would not extend to the trial against Prajwal Revanna in the same case.
The Court made the observation while hearing a petition by HD Revanna to quash the case against him.
This case will be heard next on July 4.
Notable, the trial proceedings in the kidnapping case against HD Revanna was stayed by the High Court in January this year.
Senior Advocate CV Nagesh appeared for HD Revanna today. The State was represented by Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Prof Ravi Varma Kumar.
The Court today also briefly heard a bail petition filed by Prajwal Revanna in the rape case. This is the second round of litigation in this matter after both the Karnataka High Court as well as the Supreme Court rejected Prajwal Revanna's bail plea in the first round of litigation.
Appearing for Prajwal Revanna, Senior Advocate Prabhuling Navadgi argued that his client has been behind bars for over a year with little to no progress in the trial.
The Court said it would hear the matter on June 24.