Bengaluru: Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday, May 22 has once again written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to cancel the diplomatic passport of absconding Janata Dal (Secular) leader and Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna who is accused of mass sexual abuse.
“I write to you once again to draw attention to the grave series of incidents that Mr. 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 wrote.
The chief minister added that Prajwal “fled the country on the 27th of April, 2024 to Germany using his diplomatic passport shortly after news of his heinous actions emerged and just few hours before the first FIR was filed against him”. Further, Siddaramaiah mentioned that the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) Hassan Lok Sabha seat nominee has “abused his diplomatic privileges” to travel abroad and “escape criminal proceedings”.
Underlining the actions taken by the Karnataka government, Siddaramaiah mentioned that though the SIT is investigating the alleged crimes in which Prajwal is involved, it is a matter of “serious concern” that he has managed to remain in hiding despite a Look Out Circular, a Blue Corner Notice and two notices under section 41A CrPC. “The FIR against Prajwal contains charges in the nature of rape, sexual assault, disrobing women and forcibly video graphing sexual acts in order to threaten the victims,” Siddaramaiah wrote.
He added: “Needless to emphasise that such abuse of privileges and deliberate acts of non cooperation with the legal proceedings deserves serious action by the Central government or it’s instrumentalities so as to secure the presence of the accused to face investigation and trial. It is disheartening that my previous letter raising similar concerns on the issue has not, to the best of my knowledge, been acted upon despite the gravity of the situation.”
The chief minister has urged the Modi government to cancel the diplomatic passport of Prajwal under Section 10(3)(h) of the Passport Act, 1967 or under any other relevant law and ensure his return to India.
ಮಹಿಳೆಯರ ಮೇಲಿನ ದೌರ್ಜನ್ಯ, ಅತ್ಯಾಚಾರದಂತಹ ಗಂಭೀರ ಸ್ವರೂಪದ ಆರೋಪ ಎದುರಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವ ಸಂಸದ ಪ್ರಜ್ವಲ್ ರೇವಣ್ಣ ಅವರು ವಿದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ತಲೆಮರೆಸಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದು, ಅವರ ರಾಜತಾಂತ್ರಿಕ ಪಾಸ್ಪೋರ್ಟ್ ಅನ್ನು ರದ್ದುಪಡಿಸಿ, ಕಾನೂನಿನಡಿ ವಿಚಾರಣೆ ಎದುರಿಸಲು ಎಸ್ಐಟಿ ಗೆ ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ನೆರವಾಗುವಂತೆ ಪ್ರಧಾನಿ @narendramodi ಅವರಿಗೆ ಪತ್ರದ ಮೂಲಕ… pic.twitter.com/XWlXObDSxx
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 23, 2024
The Indian Express reported that Siddaramaiah had earlier written to Prime Minister Modi on May 1 asking him to direct the home and external affairs ministries to cancel the Hassan MP’s diplomatic passport. As per sources, the Ministry of External Affairs has received a letter from the Karnataka government for the cancellation of diplomatic passport with respect to Prajwal and it is being processed.
Meanwhile, former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy also reportedly appealed to his nephew Prajwal on Wednesday to “shun his lawyers’ advice” and “co-operate with the SIT probing the charges of sexual abuse against him”. He reiterated that the Hassan MP should return to the country if he has any respect for his grandfather and former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda.
In a post on X, Deve Gowda underlined that Prajwal should be given the “harshest punishment under the law if found guilty”. He suggested that he was “unaware of Prajwal’s activities,” adding, “I cannot convince them (people) that I have no desire to shield him. I cannot convince them (people) that I am not aware of his movements, and that I was not aware of his foreign trip. I believe in answering my conscience. I believe in God and I know the almighty knows the truth.”
“At this juncture, I can do only one thing. I can issue a stern warning to Prajwal and ask him to retum from wherever he is and surrender before the police. He should subject himself to the legal process. This is not an appeal that I am making, it is a warning that I am issuing,” the former prime minister wrote.
I have issued a warning to @iPrajwalRevanna to return immediately from wherever he is and subject himself to the legal process. He should not test my patience any further. pic.twitter.com/kCMuNJOvAo
— H D Deve Gowda (@H_D_Devegowda) May 23, 2024
A special court on May 18, Saturday has issued an arrest warrant against Prajwal. So far three FIRs have been filed against the JD(S) leader. Prajwal’s constituency Hassan, voted on April 26. An SIT was formed by the Siddaramaiah-led government on April 27 to probe the multiple sexual abuse cases, on the same day he is said to have flown to Germany.
