Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on May 22 shot off another letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought the cancellation of diplomatic passport of suspended Janata Dal (Secular) MP Prajwal Revanna, who has been accused by several women for sexually abusing them.
The ministry of external affairs (MEA) confirmed that it has received a letter from the Karnataka government for the cancellation of the diplomatic passport of MP Prajwal Revanna, according to sources aware of the development. The request is being processed, the sources added.
In the letter, the Congress leader said it was ‘shameful’ that the Revanna fled to Germany on April 27, a day after voting for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections took place in his constituency, by using the diplomatic passport, according to a report by NDTV. The JDS MP, who is the grandson of ex-prime minister HD Deve Gowda, and son of Karnataka MLA HD Revanna, is contesting from Karnataka's Hassan Lok Sabha seat as a candidate of the Modi-led National Democratic Alliance.
Siddaramaiah, in his letter, alleged that the JDS MP abused his diplomatic privileges to flee the country and it was a "matter of serious concern" that he has been able to remain in hiding till now, the report said. He also expressed his 'unhappiness' over the fact that the CM's previous letter was not acted upon despite the "gravity of the situation", according to the report.
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on May 22 had said the Centre had not responded to the request for cancellation of Revanna's diplomatic passport on the basis of an arrest warrant issued against the JD(S) leader.
A Special Court for Elected Representatives issued an arrest warrant on Saturday against Prajwal following an application moved by the SIT.
Earlier this month, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Revanna travelled to Germany on a diplomatic passport and did not seek political clearance for the trip.
"No political clearance was either sought from or issued by MEA in respect of the travel of the said MP to Germany," Jaiswal had said.
With inputs from PTI
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