 |
|
With pressure mounting to nab absconding JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, wanted in sex abuse cases, the Karnataka government has written to the Ministry of External Affairs seeking a cancellation of his diplomatic passport on the basis of an arrest warrant, sources said.
The JD(S) MP fled to Germany on a diplomatic passport even as the allegations surfaced following the release of pen drives that contain hundreds of clips of the purported crimes.
“MEA has received a letter from the Karnataka government for cancellation of diplomatic passport in respect of MP Prajwal Revanna. This is being processed,” a source said.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has also written a second letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to take “prompt and necessary” actions to cancel the diplomatic passport of Prajwal.
He said that it is “disheartening” that his previous letter on the issue had not been acted-upon, despite the gravity of the situation. “I write to you once again to draw attention to the grave 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 a nationwide concern,” Siddaramaiah said in his letter to the PM dated May 22.
On Tuesday, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara had said that the state government had urged the Centre to cancel his diplomatic passport.
“A warrant has been issued now. On the basis of the warrant, a letter has been written stating that the warrant has been issued and the diplomatic passport has to be cancelled,” he told reporters.
Last Saturday, a special court for elected representatives issued an arrest warrant against Prajwal. The warrant was issued following an application moved by the Special Investigation Team against Prajwal and his father H D Revanna, who is currently out on conditional bail in a kidnapping case linked to the rape charges. Prajwal is the grandson of former prime minister H D Deve Gowda.
The SIT has sent hundreds of videos that purportedly show Prajwal allegedly forcing himself on women to the state’s Forensic Science Laboratory in Bengaluru. The Interpol had earlier issued a Blue Corner Notice to locate Prajwal on the insistence of Karnataka police
Source: Karnataka govt writes to MEA seeking cancellation of Prajwal Revanna’s diplomatic passport: Sources