Prajwal Revanna case: Karnataka government writes to MEA to cancel Hassan MP’s diplomatic passport

Related: Kumaraswamy urges nephew Prajwal Revanna to surrender

Recent developments

“CM (Chief Minister) has already written to the Prime Minister, but the department (Home) is writing in accordance with the law. Based on the warrant issued recently, a letter has been written (MEA) stating that the warrant has been issued and the diplomatic passport has to be cancelled,” Parameshwara said.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, he said if the passport is cancelled, it will be impossible for Prajwal to stay anymore in the foreign country, and he will have to come back.

“We have written to the Ministry of External Affairs as matters related to passports come under them, they will have to respond to it,” he added.

A Special Court for Elected Representatives issued an arrest warrant on 18 May against Prajwal Revanna, following an application moved by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the state government to probe the serial sex abuse charges against the MP.

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On HD Kumaraswamy’s appeal to Prajwal

On 1 May, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to move the Ministries of External Affairs and Home Affairs to take swift action to cancel the diplomatic passport of Prajwal Revanna.

A ‘Blue Corner Notice’ seeking information on Prajwal’s whereabouts has already been issued by Interpol, following a request by the SIT via the CBI.

Responding to a question on JD(S) leader and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy requesting Prajwal Revanna, who is also his nephew, to return to India and face the probe, Parameshwara said, “I have seen it in the media, it is their family’s internal matter, let him (Prajwal) come and face the law.”

Regarding Kumaraswamy alleging that 40 phones including his own and those of his family members and supporters are being tapped, the home minister said, “I have already said that the government has not tapped the phones of Kumaraswamy or 40 people that he has claimed. If he has accurate information that it has been done, let him give the information, and we will investigate as to who has done it and why.”

Asked whether the purported audio of the alleged conversation between Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and BJP leader Devaraje Gowda about the leak of explicit videos allegedly involving Prajwal Revanna, that has surfaced will also be probed by the SIT, Parameshwara said, “They (SIT) will decide it, at every level the government will not instruct about the investigation, we have nothing to do with it. SIT has been given total freedom to investigate and they will investigate as per their mandate.”

Related: No objection to action against grandson if he is found guilty: Deve Gowda

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