Power Punished

The life sentence handed down to Prajwal Revanna for raping a former domestic worker may well mark a watershed moment in Indian jurisprudence.

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At one level, it is a singular case of justice being delivered in a country where sexual violence often goes unpunished. At another, it's an unsettling reminder of how power, privilege, and impunity often coalesce until a tipping point is reached. Revanna wasn't just another accused. He is a former MP, hailing from one of Karnataka's most prominent political dynasties. His grandfather is former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda. His party is allied to the ruling establishment at the Centre. And yet, none of that could ultimately shield him from the law. The trigger for public outrage was the circulation of hundreds of explicit videos allegedly featuring him. These videos, widely shared across Karnataka and beyond in 2023, ripped through the protective layers of political privilege that usually insulate powerful men from scrutiny. Though his office