MEA processes Karnataka government’s request for Prajwal’s diplomatic passport

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is processing a request from the Karnataka government seeking cancellation of the diplomatic passport of suspended Janata Dal (Secular) MP Prajwal Revanna, who is accused of sexually harassing several women.

Official sources said the MEA had received a letter from the Karnataka government seeking revocation of Revanna’s diplomatic passport.

Revanna, the grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, is at the center of a sexual abuse case and MP Hassan reportedly left India late last month, a day after voting for the Lok Sabha elections from his constituency.

“The MEA has received a letter from the Karnataka government seeking cancellation of the diplomatic passport of MP Prajwal Revanna. This letter is being processed,” a source said.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Wednesday that the Center had not responded to the request for cancellation of Revanna’s diplomatic passport on the basis of an arrest warrant issued against the JD(S) leader.

A special court for elected officials issued an arrest warrant on Saturday against Prajwal following a request filed by the SIT.

Earlier this month, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Revanna had traveled to Germany on a diplomatic passport and had not sought political permission for the trip.

“No political permission was sought or issued by the MEA regarding the travel of the said MP to Germany,” Jaiswal had said.