Karnataka High Court orders in-camera hearing in Prajwal Revanna bail plea

The Karnataka High Court on Monday directed that the hearing in the bail application filed by former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna in the case of rape and sexual assault registered against him will be held “in-camera.”.Justice M Nagaprasanna said such in-camera hearing was important to ensure no “ignominy” is caused to the victim in the case.The Court also directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case to submit a copy of the chargesheet in the case that was filed before the trial court last month..“This case has to be heard in-camera. This just cannot be heard in the open court. I will also need to see the chargesheet and what is in it before we get an order for the in-camera hearing,” Justice Nagaprasanna said..Last month, the Special Public Prosecutor Ravivarma Kumar, who appears for the SIT, had urged the Court to consider hearing Revanna’s bail application in-camera given the grave allegations of sexual assault made against him. Kumar had said at the time that he was afraid that if the matter was heard in the open court, the parties might end up inadvertently revealing the identity of the victim.On Monday, Kumar said that he felt embarrassed just reading the details mentioned in the chargesheet..At this, Justice Nagaprasanna said that it was not merely about feeling uncomfortable or embarrassed, but an in-camera hearing was also required to protect the victim.“We have to ensure that no ignominy is caused to the victim,” the judge said..Revanna’s counsel, Prabhuling Navadgi, then told the Court that he had no objection to an in-camera hearing.Navadgi also asked for a copy of the chargesheet saying that the victim had made the allegation of rape at a later stage of the probe and hence, Section 376 of the IPC was added to the FIR after the probe had already begun. Therefore, he said he needs to go through the chargesheet or at least where the victim had first made the allegation of rape.But Justice Nagaprasanna said that the accused will get a copy of the chargesheet only after the trial court takes cognisance of the same..The High Court will hear Revanna’s bail application further on September 12..On August 24 this year, the SIT, which is investigating four cases of sexual assault and harassment against Prajwal Revanna, filed a 2,144 page-long chargesheet, the first in the four cases, before the special court which hears cases relating to MPs/MLAs.The SIT has booked Revanna for rape of a woman who used to work as the domestic help for the family.