New Delhi, Dec 11 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to entertain a plea filed by Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former MP Prajwal Revanna seeking transfer of two rape trials from the Special MP/MLA Court in Bengaluru to another court.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi rejected Revanna’s contention that the trial judge was biased. Notably, the same special court had earlier convicted and sentenced him to life imprisonment in another rape case.
Revanna approached the Supreme Court after the Karnataka High Court rejected his request for a change of the presiding judge.
Appearing for Revanna, senior advocates Siddharth Luthra and Siddharth Dave argued that the trial judge had made adverse remarks not only against Revanna but also against the defence counsel.
The bench, however, refused to accept allegations of bias, observing: “These observations of the presiding officer cannot be the ground of bias. We have no reason to doubt that the officer would not be swayed by the fact that the petitioner was found guilty in the earlier case and will confine his conclusions to the evidence led in the pending trial.”
The court added that the petitioner was free to approach the High Court seeking expunction of the remarks made by the trial court.
Both the trial court and the Karnataka High Court had earlier refused Revanna’s transfer plea, noting that the Special MP/MLA Court is specifically designated to try offences involving sitting and former legislators.
Before the High Court, Revanna had filed petitions seeking the transfer of two rape trials on the grounds of judicial bias.
He sought transfer of case no SPL.C.C. No. 5/2025 (arising out of Crime No. 20/2024), involving offences under: IPC Sections 376(2)(n) (repeated rape), 354A (sexual harassment), 354B (assault with intent to disrobe), 354C (voyeurism), 506 (criminal intimidation), 201 (destruction of evidence), Section 66E of the IT Act (violation of privacy)
The matter is currently pending before the Additional City and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru, designated as the Special Court for criminal cases involving present and former MPs and MLAs.
With today’s order, the Supreme Court has made it clear that the trials will continue before the same Special MP/MLA Court.
Supreme Court rejects Prajwal Revanna’s plea to transfer rape trials
