Special Court Order Granting Bail To HD Revanna In Kidnapping Case Seems To Be 'Defective': Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court on Friday observed that the Special Court order granting bail to Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Revanna, accused of kidnapping a woman, appears to be defective.

Revanna was granted bail by the special court on May 13. A single judge bench of Justice Krishna S Dixit while hearing the petition filed by the Special Investigation Team seeking cancellation of bail orally said, “There seems to be error apparent on the face of the record.”

It thus issued emergent notice to Ravanna, saying "an arguable case is made out by pointing out a kind of interpretation placed by the ld judge below on section 364-A of IPC.”

Special Public Prosecutor Professor Ravivarma Kumar appeared for the SIT.

The court has also issued notice to the State government on the petition filed by Revanna seeking quashing of the case registered against him.

Senior Advocate C V Nagesh appearing for Revanna argued that the provision is not attracted in the case. "Abduction simplicitor is not sufficient to invoke provisions of Section 364-A IPC, which pertains to kidnapping or abducting," Nagesh said. He argued that the provision has two components, demand and abduction. "Suppose abduction is completed. But putting that person who is in my custody in fear of death should be communicated to others to attract the provision," he added.

The court issued notice on the petition and posted both the matter to be heard on June 3 in the afternoon session.

As per the prosecution, complainant's mother had worked for Revanna for about six years and was kidnapped by Satish Babanna on Revanna's instructions. Complainant said his friend brought to his notice a viral video allegedly pertaining to the sexual assault on his mother and when he requested Babanna to send his mother back, the latter declined to do so.

The complaint was lodged on May 2 at KR Nagara Police Station.

Case Title: State of Karnataka & HD Revanna

Case No: CRL.P 4914/2024 c/w Criminal Petition No 4943/2024