The Karnataka excessive court docket on Thursday directed the trial court docket to chorus from framing prices in opposition to former Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna till January 16. Revanna faces allegations of sexual assault involving 5 ladies and has been charged below a number of sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the IT Act.
Justice M Nagaprasanna issued the interim order whereas permitting the trial court docket to proceed with arguments scheduled for January 13 however restraining it from taking additional steps till January 16.
The order adopted Revanna’s enchantment in opposition to the trial court docket’s earlier determination to reject his request for entry to all digital proof compiled by the police. Revanna had argued that below Part 207 of the Legal Process Code, he was entitled to copies of all paperwork and forensic proof associated to the case.
Nevertheless, the prosecution countered this, asserting that Revanna had already been supplied with related proof, together with pen drives and DVDs. Further particular public prosecutor BN Jagadeesha knowledgeable the HC that Revanna’s request concerned over 15,920 pictures and a couple of,235 movies unrelated to the alleged crimes. Jagadeesha described the demand as a deliberate try and delay the trial.
The court docket emphasised the significance of safeguarding the privateness of the victims. Justice Nagaprasanna noticed, “Why would you like the cloned content material of the whole telephone? The privateness of a number of ladies is concerned.” The bench additional directed that solely proof related to the case ought to be disclosed to the accused, guaranteeing the identities of the victims stay protected.
The court docket additionally expressed concern concerning the potential threat to the survivors, stating, “We won’t allow anybody to disclose the identification of others or endanger them in any approach.”
The allegations in opposition to Prajwal Revanna embrace sexual harassment, prison intimidation, and aggravated sexual assault, amongst others. The costs stem from movies and pictures allegedly recorded by Revanna that implicate him in crimes in opposition to a number of ladies.
The particular investigation group (SIT) has filed three cost sheets in opposition to him, with key proof together with DNA samples and forensic analyses linking him to the crimes.
The cost sheets detailed harrowing accounts, together with an incident the place a sufferer was raped at gunpoint, filmed, and subsequently threatened with the discharge of the footage.
Investigators revealed that worry of reprisal initially deterred the victims from submitting complaints.
The prosecution maintained that Revanna’s calls for for extra proof are an try and stall proceedings. “The FSL report incorporates 1000’s of pictures and movies unrelated to the case. This request is just a tactic to delay the trial,” argued Jagadeesha.
The SIT’s investigation uncovered proof of crimes involving a minimum of 70 ladies, additional underscoring the gravity of the case.
The 1,691-page cost sheet submitted to the particular court docket for MLAs and MPs outlined the extent of the offences and the proof in opposition to Revanna.
The HC will resume its listening to on January 16, with the trial court docket awaiting additional directions on the best way to proceed.
