Prajwal Revanna Case: “You Can’t Browbeat Judges”, CJI Slams Attempts to Misread Courtroom Observations
SC dismisses claims of judicial bias in Prajwal Revanna’s case as CJI Surya Kant warns against attempts to intimidate judges during hearings
The Supreme Court on Thursday declined Prajwal Revanna’s request to transfer his sexual assault trial out of the Special MP/MLA Court in Bengaluru, holding that the allegations of bias against the presiding judge were unfounded.
The Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, said the remarks made by the trial judge in the earlier conviction order could not justify a finding of bias.
The Court noted that such observations were contextual and tied to the evidence in that particular case.
The petitioner’s counsel, Senior Advocates Sidharth Luthra and Siddharth Dave, argued that certain comments in the August 1, 2025 judgment convicting Revanna indicated a reasonable apprehension of bias. They sought transfer of the pending trials to another sessions court.
The CJI was firm in rejecting these claims. “Courts make observations during hearings. That cannot become a ground to browbeat judges. As soon as a judge says something, allegations are made,” he remarked. He added that judges can err, but errors are corrected within the judicial process. “Sometimes mistakes happen because we deal with a large volume of cases and evidence,” the CJI said.
Offering limited relief, the bench directed that the trial judge must assess the pending cases solely on the evidence presented before him, without being influenced by Revanna’s previous conviction, which is now under appeal before the High Court.
The Court said all contentions, including expunging of remarks, may be raised before the High Court in the pending appeal. With these observations, the Supreme Court disposed of the special leave petition.
In 2024, the Supreme Court had had denied bail to former MP Prajwal Revanna, accused of rape and in a case of recording a video of sexual harassment. Revanna had approached the Apex Court after the Karnataka High Court denied him relief on October 21st. The cases were filed after several women alleged in April that the then MP had forced him into sexual acts which were then filmed.
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Revanna had told Court that his client was abroad, who came back and surrendered. The Bench was further informed that chargesheet has been filed.
As the Court dismissed the petition, Rohatgi had asked if he may file again after 6 months, to which Justice Trivedi responded, "We won't say anything..".
Previously, the Supreme Court had dismissed Karnataka's plea challenging the anticipatory bail granted to Bhavani Revanna, mother of Prajwal Revanna, who is accused of kidnapping women to aid her son in sexually exploiting these women.
The accused Bhavani Revanna allegedly also attempted to prevent a woman, who was sexually assaulted by her son (Prajwal Revanna), from filing a complaint. Prajwal's parents, HD Revanna and Bhavani Revanna, are facing allegations of kidnapping a woman who filed a sexual assault complaint against their son, Prajwal Revanna.
Case Title: Prajwal Revanna v. State of Karnataka
Order Date: December 11, 2025
Bench: CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi