MEA Processing Karnataka Govt’s Request To Cancel Prajwal Revanna’s Diplomatic Passport: Sources

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is processing a letter from the Karnataka government for the cancellation of the diplomatic passport of MP Prajwal Revanna, who is facing charges of sexual abuse, sources said on Thursday.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday had said the state government has written to the MEA to cancel the diplomatic passport of Hassan MP, based on an arrest warrant issued against him by a court. “MEA has received a letter from the Karnataka government for cancellation of diplomatic passport in respect of MP Prajwal Revanna. This is being processed,” sources told News18.

The 33-year-old Prajwal, who is the grandson of JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and is the NDA’s candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment, is facing charges of multiple instances of sexually abusing women. Prajwal reportedly left for Germany on April 27, a day after Hassan went to polls, and is still at large.

“CM (Chief Minister) has already written to the Prime Minister, but the department (Home) writing it in accordance with law is different. Warrant has been issued now, on the basis of the warrant, a letter has been written stating that — warrant has been issued and the diplomatic passport has to be cancelled,” Parameshwara said. Speaking to reporters here, he said if the passport is cancelled, it will be impossible for Prajwal to stay anymore in the foreign country, and he will have to come back.

“We have written to the Ministry of External Affairs as matters related to passports come under them, they will have to respond to it,” he added. A Special Court for Elected Representatives issued an arrest warrant on Saturday against Prajwal Revanna, following an application moved by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the state government to probe the serial sex abuse charges against the MP.

Earlier, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had on May 1 written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to move the MEA and Home Affairs to take swift action to cancel Prajwal’s diplomatic passport. A ‘Blue Corner Notice’ seeking information on Prajwal’s whereabouts has already been issued by Interpol, following a request by the SIT via the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Responding to a question on JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy requesting Prajwal Revanna, who is also his nephew, to return to India and face the probe, Parameshwara said, “I have seen it in the media, it is their family’s internal matter, let him (Prajwal) come and face the law.”

(With agency inputs)

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