Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah writes to PM Modi again seeking cancellation of Prajwal Revanna’s passport

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written a second letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to take “prompt and necessary” steps to cancel the diplomatic passport of MP Hassan Prajwal Revanna, who is facing charges of sexual abuse of women.

He said it was “disheartening” that his previous letter on the issue had not been acted upon, despite the seriousness of the situation.

On May 1, the chief minister had written to Modi urging him to direct the foreign and home ministries to take prompt steps to cancel Prajwal’s diplomatic passport.

Recently, the Special Investigation Team (SIT), set up by the state government to probe allegations of serial sexual abuse against the MP, had also written to the Ministry of External Affairs to cancel his passport diplomatic, on the basis of an arrest warrant issued against him by the court.

“I am writing to you once again to draw attention to the serious series of incidents that Prajwal Revanna has been accused of committing. These incidents have not only shocked the conscience of the people of the State of Karnataka, but have also caused nationwide concern,” Siddaramaiah said in his letter to the Prime Minister dated May 22.

He said: “It is shameful that Prajwal Revanna, an MP from Hassan constituency, who is also running for re-election in the current general elections and who is the grandson of a former Prime Minister, fled the country on 27. of April 2024 to Germany using his diplomatic passport bearing number D1135500, shortly after his heinous acts were announced and just hours before the first FIR was filed against him.

Accusing Prajwal of misusing his diplomatic privileges to flee the country and evade criminal prosecution, the CM added that the Karnataka government has taken prompt steps to meet the objectives of justice by setting up an SIT to probe the affair.

The SIT is investigating Prajwal Revanna’s alleged crimes against women and is working to ensure the presence of the accused to face the criminal charges, he said.

“It is of grave concern that the accused Prajwal Revanna has managed to remain in hiding till date despite the issuance of a lookout circular, a Blue Corner notice and two Investigating Officer notices under the Section 41A CrPC.

“The FIR against Prajwal Revanna contains charges of rape, sexual assault, undressing of women and forced videography of sexual acts in order to threaten victims,” he noted.

Needless to say, such abuse of privileges and deliberate acts of non-cooperation with the judicial process deserve serious action by the central government or its instrumentalities to ensure the presence of the accused to face the investigation and trial, Siddaramaiah said: “It is disheartening that my previous letter raising similar concerns on the matter has not, to my knowledge, been acted upon despite the seriousness of the situation.

“Therefore, I urge you to please consider this matter with utmost seriousness and take prompt and necessary steps to cancel the diplomatic passport of Prajwal Revanna, under Section 10(3)(h) of the Passport Act, 1967 or under any other relevant law and ensure his return to the country in the public interest,” he added.

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

A Special Court for elected representatives had issued an arrest warrant against Prajwal Revanna, following a petition filed by the SIT.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Wednesday said there was no response yet from the Center regarding the demand for cancellation of Prajwal’s diplomatic passport.

“Still nothing has come (from the Centre). The Center should also help us. This is what we are urging. It makes no sense to just criticize, within the framework of the law, the Center should also help us,” Parameshwara said.