The Karnataka government has urged the Centre to cancel the diplomatic passport of JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, who is wanted in multiple rape and sexual harassment cases.
Home Minister G. Parameshwara said, "We have urged the Central government to revoke his diplomatic passport. Once this is done, Prajwal Revanna will have to return to India." He added that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had earlier written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in connection with the issue.
The Special Investigation Team probing the sex assault case wrote to the Ministry of External Affairs, urging it to cancel Prajwal's diplomatic passport. This comes two days after the Special Court of Elected Representatives in Bengaluru issued an arrest warrent against Prajwal.
SIT preparing dossier for red corner notice
The SIT had issued look-out circulars and the Interpol also issued a blue corner notice, seeking Prajwal's whereabouts, after the investigation team sent a request via CBI. Reports have said that the SIT is now preparing a dossier to convert its blue corner notice into a red corner notice, leading to cancel Prajwal Revanna's passport.
The Hassan MP fled to Germany after the second phase of Lok Sabha polls in the state on April 26 and is travelling on European visa. His departure came after explicit videos of women allegedly raped and harassed by the JD(S) scion were leaked in a pen drive.
A Indian national with a diplomatic passport has to surrender their regular blue passport. If the Centre cancels Prajwal's diplomatic passport, he will lose his privilege, following which the SIT can request Interpol to issue of a red corner notice via CBI.