New Delhi, 13 July (H.S.): l

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to Janata Dal (Secular) leader H.D. Revanna while hearing a petition filed by the Karnataka Government challenging the order acquitting him in a sexual harassment case. A Bench headed by Justice J.B. Pardiwala issued the notice after taking up the state's appeal.

In December 2025, a trial court in Bengaluru acquitted H.D. Revanna in the sexual harassment case on the ground that the complaint had been filed after a delay of four years. The complaint had been lodged by his former domestic helper.

The trial court's acquittal order followed an earlier decision of the Karnataka High Court, which had quashed the criminal proceedings against Revanna. The High Court had observed that while the allegations against Revanna could amount to sexual harassment, they did not constitute the offence of outraging the modesty of a woman.

The High Court had directed the trial court to reconsider the matter, following which the trial court acquitted Revanna. It is this order of the Karnataka High Court that the Karnataka Government has challenged before the Supreme Court.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar