Karnataka calls for MP Hassan’s cancellation

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday said the state government has written to the Ministry of External Affairs to cancel the diplomatic passport of MP Hassan Prajwal Revanna, who is facing sexual abuse charges , based on an arrest warrant issued against him by a court. Prajwal, 33, grandson of JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and NDA candidate in Hassan Lok Sabha segment, faces multiple charges of sexual abuse of women.

Prajwal reportedly left for Germany on April 27, a day after Hassan went to the polls, and he remains at large.

”The CM (Chief Minister) has already written to the Prime Minister, but the ministry (Home) writing it as per law is different. A warrant has been issued now, based on the warrant, a letter has been written stating that — the warrant has been issued and the diplomatic passport should be cancelled,” Parameshwara said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said if the passport was cancelled, it would be impossible for Prajwal to stay any longer in the foreign country and he would have to return.

“We have written to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs because questions related to passports fall within their remit, they will have to answer them,” he added.

A special court for elected representatives on Saturday issued an arrest warrant against Prajwal Revanna, following an application filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the state government to probe the accusations of serial sexual abuse brought against the deputy.

Earlier, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 1 urging him to direct the foreign and home ministries to take prompt steps to cancel Prajwal Revanna’s diplomatic passport.

A ‘Blue Corner Notice’ seeking information on Prajwal’s whereabouts has already been issued by Interpol, following a request from the SIT through the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Responding to a question on JD(S) leader and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy asking Prajwal Revanna, who is also his nephew, to return to India and face the probe, Parameshwara said: “I ‘I saw in the media, it is their family’s internal matter, that he (Prajwal) comes and faces the law.” Regarding Kumaraswamy alleging that 40 phones, including his and those of his family members and his supporters, are being tapped, the interior minister said: “I have already said that the government has not tapped the phones of Kumaraswamy or the 40 people he claimed. If he has specific information that this was done, if he gives the information, we will investigate who did it and why.” He was asked if the purported audio of the alleged conversation between Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and BJP leader Devaraje Gowda over the leak of explicit videos allegedly involving Prajwal Revanna, which surfaced, will also be investigated by the SIT, Parameshwara said : “they (SIT) will decide, at all levels, the government will not give instructions on the investigation, we have nothing to do with it. The SIT was given complete freedom to investigate and will investigate in accordance with its mandate.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)