The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a show cause notice to those suspended JD (S) MP Prajwal Revanna asking why his diplomatic passport should not be canceled as requested by the Karnataka government in view of the sexual abuse allegations against him, people familiar with the matter said on Friday.
Official sources said on Thursday that the MEA is processing the Karnataka government’s request to cancel Prajwal’s diplomatic passport. It is currently believed to be in Germany.
The show cause notice was served on Prajwal as part of the process initiated to cancel his passport, the people cited above said.
It is learned that the show-cause notice was delivered through email.
Prajwal, grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, is at the center of a massive sexual abuse case and MP Hassan left India on April 27, a day after voting was held for the Lok Sabha elections in his constituency.
The MEA is learned to be carrying out the process to cancel Prajwal’s diplomatic passport under the provisions of the Passport Act, 1967 as well as related regulations.
If the passport is cancelled, Prajwal’s stay abroad will be illegal and he could face legal action by the competent authorities of the country he is in, said a person familiar with the matter.
On Wednesday, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wrote a second letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to take “swift and necessary” action to cancel Prajwal’s diplomatic passport.
The Prime Minister sent a similar letter to the Prime Minister on May 1.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the Karnataka government to probe charges of sexual abuse against Prajwal wrote to the MEA to cancel his diplomatic passport after a local court issued an arrest warrant against him.
Interpol has already issued a “blue notice” seeking information on Revanna’s whereabouts following a request from the SIT.
Earlier this month, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Prajwal traveled to Germany on a diplomatic passport and did not seek political clearance for the trip.
“MEA neither sought nor issued any political clearance regarding the said MP’s trip to Germany,” Jaiswal had said.
“Obviously no visa note was issued either. Diplomatic passport holders do not need a visa to travel to Germany. The Ministry has not issued any visa note for any other country,” the MEA spokesperson said.
Prajwal’s father HD Revanna, a former Karnataka minister, was also accused of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation. He is currently out on bail.
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