Special court rejects co-accused’s plea to turn approver in Suraj Revanna case

A special court for elected representatives in the city has dismissed a petition by HL Shivakumar, a co-accused in the sexual harassment case involving JD(S) MLC Suraj Revanna, seeking permission to turn approver.

The case stems from a complaint alleging that Suraj sexually abused a young JD(S) worker at his farmhouse in Channarayapatna taluk in June 2024. Suraj was named the prime accused. The FIR also named Shivakumar, described as a close associate of Suraj, and accused him of aiding the MLC and threatening the survivor and his family with dire consequences to prevent them from approaching the authorities.

In April 2026, Shivakumar approached the special court seeking to turn approver — a legal provision under which an accused can offer evidence against co-accused in return for a pardon or reduced sentence. Suraj opposed the plea through his counsel.

After hearing both sides, the court rejected Shivakumar’s application. It noted that while he had repeatedly claimed he was willing to disclose the “true facts”, he had not specified what he intended to reveal, how he came to know about the facts, or what information he possessed that was unavailable to the prosecution.

The court said his claim that he had “complete knowledge” and was willing to reveal the truth was not enough to establish the nature or credibility of the proposed disclosure. It observed that the application lacked factual basis and was not supported by relevant legal grounds or judicial precedents.

Source: The Times of India