The Aryavarth Express
Agency (Karnataka): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has once again written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the cancellation of the diplomatic passport of suspended JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, who faces allegations of sexually abusing multiple women. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is processing the request for passport revocation.
Former Prime Minister and Prajwal’s grandfather, Deve Gowda, issued a stern warning to his grandson, demanding he return home to face legal proceedings. Gowda warned that failure to comply would result in his isolation from the family.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi confirmed that there is a process to revoke Prajwal’s diplomatic passport and assured that the Centre is ready to assist in bringing him back to India.
In New Delhi, official sources confirmed that the MEA has received a letter from the Karnataka government requesting the revocation of Revanna’s diplomatic passport. “The MEA has received a letter from the Karnataka government for cancellation of diplomatic passport in respect of MP Prajwal Revanna. This is being processed,” a source said.
The MEA’s statement came after Siddaramaiah’s second letter to PM Modi, urging “prompt and necessary” actions to cancel Prajwal’s passport. The Chief Minister emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that it was “shameful” for a Member of Parliament and grandson of a former Prime Minister to flee the country on April 27, 2024, just hours before the first FIR was filed against him.
Siddaramaiah assured that the Karnataka government has formed a special team to investigate the matter. Deve Gowda also emphasized that there would be no interference from his family in the investigation, focusing solely on justice for the victims.
In a statement, the 92-year-old veteran expressed his determination: “If he does not heed this warning, he will have to face my anger and the anger of all his family members. The law will take care of the accusations against him, but not listening to the family will ensure his total isolation.”
Union Minister Joshi criticized the Karnataka government for not detaining Prajwal before he left the country. He accused the Congress of trying to blame the Centre and politicize the issue. “There is a process to cancel diplomatic passports…so far Siddaramaiah, D K Shivakumar (deputy CM), and Parameshwara (Home Minister) have not responded to my question,” Joshi said.
Joshi highlighted that explicit video clippings involving Prajwal emerged on April 21, and he left for Germany on April 27. He questioned why the Karnataka government did not act sooner. “Were they guarding donkeys for seven days? Why didn’t you file an FIR and detain him,” Joshi asked.
Prajwal, the NDA candidate from the Hassan Lok Sabha segment, is accused of sexually abusing multiple women. He reportedly left for Germany on April 27, a day after voting in Hassan. A ‘Blue Corner Notice’ seeking information on his whereabouts has been issued by Interpol following a request by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) through the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
A Special Court for Elected Representatives issued an arrest warrant against Prajwal on May 18, following an application by the SIT.