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Karnataka’s Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting the cancellation of the diplomatic passport issued to Janata Dal (Secular)’s Hassan MP, Prajwal Revanna. This request comes in light of an ongoing scandal involving obscene videos allegedly featuring Prajwal. The Chief Minister emphasizes the importance of canceling the passport to ensure Prajwal’s return to India for investigation purposes.
Who is Prajwal Revanna?
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Prajwal Revanna, born on August 5, 1990, in Bengaluru Urban, Karnataka, hails from a prominent political family. His father is former Cabinet Minister H.D Revanna, and his grandfather is Deve Gowda. After completing his BE, Prajwal ventured into politics. In 2015, he gained recognition as one of India’s promising young politicians by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), UK, which provided him with exposure to the British governance system.
Although affiliated with the Janta Dal (Secular), Prajwal encountered a setback in 2018 when his uncle, H.D Kumaraswamy, denied him a ticket in the elections, sparking a familial dispute. Nonetheless, Prajwal persisted in his political endeavors in Hassan. His determination paid off in 2019 when he successfully contested and won the Hassan Lok Sabha seat, previously held by his grandfather, Deve Gowda.
Suspension and Legal Challenges.
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Following the leak of the videos, Prajwal was suspended from the JD(S) party, and a criminal case was filed against him and his father, H.D. Revanna, by one of the victims. Prajwal, being a Member of Parliament, holds a diplomatic passport in addition to his regular one. A diplomatic passport grants certain privileges, including immunity from arrest and access to diplomatic services abroad.
Despite the Chief Minister’s request, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has yet to respond. However, if Prajwal indeed holds a diplomatic passport, he is required to obtain prior political clearance for any private visits abroad, as stipulated by the rules. This clearance process must be completed at least three weeks in advance through the designated online platform.
Parliamentary Bulletin
The parliamentary bulletin outlines the necessity for MPs to seek political clearance even for private visits, distinguishing between “private visits” and “private business.” While the former includes tourism or visiting friends and relatives, the latter refers to foreign trips for personal business affairs, such as attending seminars or conferences. It is essential for MPs to ensure that their activities during private visits do not give the impression of an official parliamentary delegation.
The issuance of diplomatic passports to MPs is managed by the MEA’s Consular, Passport & Visa Division. MPs and their spouses must apply online and submit the required documents for processing. Additionally, MPs are instructed to provide any other passports they hold for safekeeping during the application process.
Despite these regulations, Prajwal’s lawyer, Arun G. from the law firm Jus Lex, cannot confirm whether Prajwal was indeed traveling on a diplomatic passport. This uncertainty underscores the need for transparency and adherence to protocol in such matters.
Suspended JD(S) leader and Hassan MP, Prajwal Revanna, has broken his silence regarding the alleged sex scandal, stating that he has informed the CID Bengaluru of his absence from the city. He expressed confidence that the truth will emerge soon.
In a social media post, the grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda shared a letter indicating his communication with the CID Bengaluru through his advocate due to his absence from Bangalore for the inquiry.
Meanwhile, the SIT seized the phone of Prajwal’s former driver, Karthik, for data retrieval related to the ‘obscene videos.’ Karthik had earlier claimed to have handed over the video clips to Karnataka BJP leader and lawyer Devaraje Gowda, who alleged that he had warned the party about the sexual abuse allegations against Prajwal before finalizing the alliance deal with JD(S). However, the BJP leadership refuted receiving any such letter.
Prajwal’s lawyer, Arun, informed the media that the Hassan MP requires seven days to return and cooperate with the investigation, emphasizing that this delay should not pose significant difficulties to the probe. Arun also mentioned that a notice under section 41A of CrPC was left at Prajwal and his father’s residences. He clarified that while he knows Prajwal’s whereabouts, Prajwal has denied the authenticity of the videos, anticipating their release a year ago with the intention to defame him.
