Bengaluru

Akey prosecution witness in the rape trial against former Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna has expressed apprehension about her safety and that of her son after allegedly receiving threatening phone calls following her deposition before a special court here.

The 43-year-old social worker from Hassan district, who was examined as a prosecution witness on July 6, raised the issue during her cross-examination on Thursday. The court, taking note of her allegation, directed the Additional Director General of Police, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), to inquire into the alleged threats and submit a report at the next hearing. It also directed the authorities to provide protection to the witness as per law.

The witness also told the court that she feared a possible threat from the accused persons and said that if anything happened to her or her son, they should be held responsible. The case is currently at the trial stage and is being conducted through a special public prosecutor. The development comes days after Central Crime Branch (CCB) personnel recovered a mobile phone, charger, pen drive and scribbling pad from Prajwal’s cell in the high-security barrack at Parappana Agrahara prison.Prajwal, the grandson of former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and Holenarasipura MLA H D Revanna’s son, represented Hassan in the Lok Sabha from 2019 to 2024.

He was arrested in May 2024 in connection with sexual assault cases and was later convicted in a rape case. A special court in Bengaluru sentenced him to life imprisonment in August 2025, following which he was lodged in Parappana Agrahara prison.