Ex-MP Prajwal Revanna, Serving Life for Rape, Found With Phone in Bengaluru Jail
Former Janata Dal (Secular) MP Prajwal Revanna, who is serving a life sentence after being convicted in a rape case, was found in possession of a mobile phone during a surprise raid by the Crime Branch at the Bengaluru central prison, officials said. A case has been registered and an investigation initiated to trace how the device was smuggled into the facility.
Sources said Revanna was reportedly using the phone when the raiding team entered his cell. The phone has been seized, and investigators are examining its call details and stored data. As part of the probe, the authorities will also look into whether any prison staff facilitated the entry of the phone or ignored security norms.
Revanna, the grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and nephew of Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy, was sentenced to life imprisonment last year after being convicted on charges of rape and criminal intimidation. He was also held guilty of circulating videos of the sexual assault of a 48-year-old woman, a domestic helper at the Revanna family's farmhouse in Holenarasipura, Hassan district.
The woman had alleged that she was raped repeatedly by Revanna since 2021. She said he recorded the acts and threatened to make the videos public if she told anyone. The videos later surfaced online, triggering a major political scandal and a criminal case against the former lawmaker.
After the videos became public, Revanna left for Germany. The JD(S) suspended him, and he contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election from the Hassan constituency while abroad, losing the seat. He was arrested soon after returning to India and has been in judicial custody since then. The case had emerged as a major campaign issue during the 2024 elections, with the opposition attacking the state government over the handling of the probe.
The latest incident has renewed questions about alleged preferential treatment for high-profile inmates in Karnataka's prisons. The Bengaluru central prison was already under scrutiny in 2024 when a photo of Kannada actor Darshan, in custody in a murder case, went viral—showing him smoking a cigarette on a lawn with three others, along with a video of him on a phone call. That incident led to the suspension of several jail officials, Darshan's transfer to Ballari Central Prison, and a strict crackdown on prison privileges.
Prison regulations strictly ban personal mobile phones, SIM cards, and all electronic communication devices for inmates. Communication with the outside world is permitted only through monitored institutional landlines, public call offices, or designated video-calling facilities. Any breach is considered a serious security violation and invites disciplinary action.
The current investigation is expected to examine lapses at entry points, the role of prison staff on duty, and the adequacy of surveillance systems. Officials have indicated that strict action, including disciplinary proceedings, will be taken against anyone found responsible. A detailed report from the Crime Branch is awaited.
