Karnataka High Court Orders In-Camera Hearing for Prajwal Revanna’s Bail Plea in Sensitive Case

The Karnataka High Court, on September 9, ordered that the bail application hearing of former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna be conducted in a confidential “in-camera” setting

Justice M Nagaprasanna, leading a single-judge bench, emphasized the importance of confidentiality during the proceedings, stating, “This will be heard in-camera, it cannot be heard in open court. We will secure the order and do it this way to ensure no one faces any undue humiliation.”

Prajwal Revanna is currently in judicial custody while the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigates three cases against him. The bail application pertains to the first case registered at Holenarasipura police station, with an anticipatory bail plea related to another case filed by the SIT in Bengaluru.

Justice Nagaprasanna also directed the SIT to provide a copy of the chargesheet submitted last month in the trial court. The judge stated, “I will need to review the chargesheet before proceeding with the in-camera hearing.”

Last month, Special Public Prosecutor Ravivarma Kumar had advocated for an in-camera hearing due to the sensitive nature of the allegations, expressing concerns over inadvertently revealing the victim’s identity. He reiterated these concerns during the hearing, emphasizing the severity of the charges against Revanna.

Prajwal’s counsel, Prabhuling Navadgi, did not object to the in-camera hearing and requested access to the chargesheet, noting that the rape allegation was introduced later in the investigation. However, Justice Nagaprasanna clarified that the accused would only receive a copy of the chargesheet after the trial court acknowledges it.

Further proceedings on Prajwal Revanna’s bail application are scheduled for September 12.

Previously, on August 24, the SIT had filed a comprehensive 2,144-page chargesheet against Revanna in a special court that handles cases involving MPs and MLAs. The charges against him include allegations of rape, filming sexual acts with over 70 women, and distributing nearly 3,000 videos in Hassan district ahead of the election for the Hassan Lok Sabha seat, which Prajwal was contesting for re-election. Three cases of sexual assault and harassment have been registered against him, with chargesheets still pending in the remaining cases.

(With inputs from agency)