Karnataka Government Approves Cash Rewards for Police in High-Profile Investigations
The Karnataka government has taken a significant step to recognize the diligent efforts of its police force by sanctioning substantial cash rewards for personnel involved in two major criminal investigations. This move underscores the state's commitment to acknowledging exceptional police work in complex cases that have captured public attention.
Reward for Prajwal Revanna Rape Case Investigation
On Tuesday, the state government approved a cash reward of Rs 25 lakh for police personnel who played pivotal roles in investigating the rape case against former Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna. This decision follows recommendations from the head of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that probed the case, with Director General of Police (DGP) M A Saleem approving the proposal.
The reward will be distributed among 30 police personnel who contributed to the investigation. The government order specifically noted that this was considered "a special case only for one time, delegating the financial authority to the DG & IGP."
Former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna was sentenced to life imprisonment after the Karnataka Police's SIT established the rape case through a combination of scientific, digital, and forensic evidence. The investigation faced challenges, including the alleged destruction of the iPhone used to record the sexual assault.
The SIT employed multiple forensic techniques to authenticate evidence:
- Forensic video analysis to verify explicit videos
- Voice sample examination for audio verification
- Image superimposition to match footage with the crime location
- DNA evidence from hair follicles and biological traces
- Data recovery from Revanna's Apple phone
The court accepted the prosecution's argument that the device had been deliberately destroyed to eliminate evidence, leading to an additional conviction for destruction of evidence. The judicial observation highlighted that the videos were neither edited nor morphed, and the SIT's rigorous use of scientific techniques proved the offences beyond reasonable doubt.
Recognition for Nyamati Bank Robbery Probe
In addition to the Prajwal Revanna case, the Karnataka government has sanctioned Rs 10.02 lakh as a cash reward for 83 police officers and staff for their role in solving a bank robbery under the Nyamati Police Station limits in Davangere district.
The police personnel were commended for arresting the accused and recovering nearly all the gold stolen from the State Bank of India branch. Investigators successfully recovered approximately 17 kg of gold ornaments, valued at around Rs 13 crore, which had been taken from locked strongroom lockers during the October 2024 heist.
Key achievements in the bank robbery investigation included:
- Arrest of all culprits involved in the robbery
- Recovery of a significant portion of stolen gold hidden in a remote well in Madurai district, Tamil Nadu
- Completion of an extensive investigation that led to arrests in March 2025
This dual recognition by the Karnataka government highlights the importance of rewarding police excellence in both high-profile sexual assault cases and complex financial crimes, setting a precedent for acknowledging investigative diligence across different types of criminal investigations.
