Prajwal Revanna case: Bengaluru court gags media from false reporting on HD Deve Gowda, Kumaraswamy

A Bengaluru court last week issued a gag order barring media outlets from reporting false news items against former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and HD Kumaraswamy in relation to the Prajwal Revanna sexual abuse case.

Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge HA Mohan, however, made it clear that the media was not totally restrained from publishing or telecasting news in relation to the case.

"It is ordered that, the defendants are temporarily restrained from publishing any news item by falsely depicting the plaintiffs, by showing their marping photos, without any substantive evidence against them, with an intention to unnecessarily tarnishing their image and reputation in the public at large, till next date of hearing. However, it is made clear that the defendants are not totally restrained from publishing, telecasting any news, if they think that, truth is their defence, and they have substantial piece of evidence to defend themselves," the Court said.

The Court noted that there are no allegations made against the plaintiffs in relation to the videos depicting sexual abuse and in the complaints filed in the wake of the allegations.

"Having regard to the sensitivity of the matter involved and the fact with regard to their relationship with Mr.Prajwal Revanna, keeping in mind the Judgment of Hon’ble Supreme Court, I am of the opinion that, the right of defendants from publishing articles under the right of defence, cannot be fully restricted. However, to the extent of showing the fake and fabricated news items against these plaintiffs, without any admissible and substantive material, can be prevented by granting TI order for a limited period," the order stated.

Hassan Lok Sabha member and Janata Dal (Secular) leader Prajwal Revanna has been booked on allegations of sexual assault of multiple women.

The case was lodged on the basis of over 2,900 videos depicting the sexual assault of several women, which were recently circulated on social media.

As per reports, these videos surfaced days before the Lok Sabha polls took place in Karnataka.

On April 28, a first information report (FIR) was registered against Prajwal Revanna and his father HD Revanna under Sections 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 509 (insult to modesty of woman) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at the Holenaraseepur town police station, Hassan district.

In the kidnapping case registered in connection with the sexual abuse case, a Bengaluru court on Sunday remanded Karnataka Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) and Prajwal's father HD Revanna to the custody of a special investigation team (SIT) for three days.

Revanna is also reported to have secured a media gag order from a trial court in Bengaluru last year to restrain the publication of the videos, which he claimed were fake and morphed.

[Read Order]