BENGALURU: Accused JDS MLA HD Revanna on Thursday surrendered before the 42nd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) in the city, in connection with a sexual assault case registered against him along with his MP son Prajwal Revanna, in Holenarasipura Town police station.
The 42nd ACMM Preeth J (Special Court for trial of cases against sitting and former MPs/MLAs, triable by a Magistrate in the state) released him on interim bail after he executed a bond of Rs 5 lakh and two sureties of like sum.
After Revanna surrendered, his counsel moved the bail application. Strongly opposing it, Additional SPP Jayna Kothari argued that the accused should be remanded in custody since he did not appear despite issuance of two notices.
The ASPP also pointed out that this court has no jurisdiction to hear the bail application as the offence of rape was also invoked in this case against the son of the accused, after the crime was registered in Holenarasipura Town police station, which is triable by the sessions court.
However, Revanna’s counsel argued that the anticipatory bail petition filed by the accused in this case was withdrawn in the first week of the month after prosecution informed court that no non-cognisable offences were invoked against him. Therefore, opposing bail is not proper.
The ASPP countered that the accused has to be remanded in judicial custody once he surrenders before court, and he cannot seek deferment of the hearing just because he is a politician. Till completion of the hearing, custody of the accused is necessary, she argued.
Revanna’s counsel argued that the accused was taken into custody by SIT in the abduction case registered with KR Nagar police in Mysuru district, and he could have been questioned about the crime registered in Holenarasipura. Even otherwise, the ASPP has no locus standi to oppose bail since the offences invoked against the accused are triable by a magistrate, he argued.
Adjourning the hearing till Friday, the court granted interim bail to Revanna, who left court after fulfilling bail conditions.
Meanwhile, Sathish Babanna, an accused in the kidnap case, was remanded in judicial custody till May 24, and Keerthi, another accused, was in police custody.