Foreign Office sends show cause notice to Prajwal Revanna asking why his diplomatic passport should not be canceled

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a show cause notice to suspended JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, asking him why his diplomatic passport should not be canceled as requested by the Karnataka government in view of the abuse allegations sexual assault against him, people familiar with the matter said on May 24.

Official sources said on Thursday that the MEA was processing the Karnataka government’s request to cancel Prajwal’s diplomatic passport. He is currently in Germany.

The show cause notice was served to Mr. Prajwal as part of the process initiated to cancel his passport, the people cited above said.

It is learned that the show cause notice was served via email.

Mr Prajwal, grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, is at the center of a massive sexual abuse case and MP Hassan left India on April 27, a day after voting in the elections of Lok Sabha in his constituency.

It is learned that the MEA is undertaking the process of canceling Mr. Prajwal’s diplomatic passport under the provisions of the Passport Act, 1967 as well as related regulations.

If the passport is cancelled, then Mr. Prajwal’s stay abroad will be illegal and he could face legal action by the relevant authorities of the country he is staying in, a person familiar with the matter said.

On Wednesday, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wrote a second letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to take “prompt and necessary” steps to cancel Mr Prajwal’s diplomatic passport.

The chief minister sent a similar letter to the Prime Minister on May 1.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the Karnataka government to probe the sexual abuse allegations against Mr Revanna has written to the MEA to cancel his diplomatic passport after an arrest warrant was issued against him by a local court.

A “Blue Corner Notice” requesting information on Revanna’s whereabouts has already been issued by Interpol following a request from the SIT.

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

Prajwal Revanna sexual assault case | Complete coverage

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

“Clearly, no visa note has been issued either. No visa is required for diplomatic passport holders to travel to Germany. The ministry has not issued any visa note for any other country “, said the MEA spokesperson.

Mr Prajwal’s father, HD Revanna, a former Karnataka minister, was also charged with sexual harassment and criminal intimidation. He is currently out on bail.