NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Friday refuted the allegations of shielding Janata Dal Secular MP Prajwal Revanna and revealed that the ministry of external affairs received a request to impound the passport of Revanna from the Karnataka government only on May 21.
“To impound a passport is governed by an act called the Passport Act.We need a judicial court or a police request to do so. The MEA got this request from Karnataka only on May 21.” Jaishankar told ANI.
“We immediately acted on it. On 23rd of May… we have to follow a certain procedure and the procedure is initiated,” he added.
Asked about the Congress government’s accusations against the BJP of shielding Revanna, Jaishankar said, “They did not take the first step. I mean, he’s not the first case where impounding a passport is taking place.”
The revelation comes a day Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah urgently requested the cancellation of the diplomatic passport belonging to JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, along with concerted efforts to ensure his return to India.
The 33-year-old the grandson of Deve Gowda and is the NDA’s candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment, is facing charges of multiple instances of sexually abusing women.
The FIR against Prajwal Revanna includes grave charges such as rape, sexual assault, disrobing women, and forcibly video-graphing sexual acts to intimidate the victims. Siddaramaiah emphasizes the urgency of the situation, stressing the need for decisive action by the central government to ensure the accused’s cooperation with legal proceedings.
Prajwal reportedly left for Germany on April 27, a day after Hassan went to polls, and is still at large. Interpol has also issued a Blue Corner Notice seeking information on his whereabouts.
On Thursday, former Prime Minister and JDS patriarch HD Deve Gowda also issued a warning to his grandson Prajwal Revanna to return to India and submit himself to the legal process.
In a letter posted on X, former PM Gowda said, “I spoke to the media about Prajwal Revanna on 18 May when I was headed to the temple to offer pooja. It took me some time to recover from the shock and pain he has inflicted on me, my entire family, my colleagues, friends and party workers. I have already said that he should be given the harshest punishment under the law if found guilty.”
“At this juncture, I can do only one thing. I can issue a stern warning to Prajwal and ask him to return 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. If he does not heed to this warning, he will have to face my anger and anger of all his family members,” the letter read.
“To impound a passport is governed by an act called the Passport Act.We need a judicial court or a police request to do so. The MEA got this request from Karnataka only on May 21.” Jaishankar told ANI.
“We immediately acted on it. On 23rd of May… we have to follow a certain procedure and the procedure is initiated,” he added.
Asked about the Congress government’s accusations against the BJP of shielding Revanna, Jaishankar said, “They did not take the first step. I mean, he’s not the first case where impounding a passport is taking place.”
The revelation comes a day Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah urgently requested the cancellation of the diplomatic passport belonging to JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, along with concerted efforts to ensure his return to India.
The 33-year-old the grandson of Deve Gowda and is the NDA’s candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment, is facing charges of multiple instances of sexually abusing women.
The FIR against Prajwal Revanna includes grave charges such as rape, sexual assault, disrobing women, and forcibly video-graphing sexual acts to intimidate the victims. Siddaramaiah emphasizes the urgency of the situation, stressing the need for decisive action by the central government to ensure the accused’s cooperation with legal proceedings.
Prajwal reportedly left for Germany on April 27, a day after Hassan went to polls, and is still at large. Interpol has also issued a Blue Corner Notice seeking information on his whereabouts.
On Thursday, former Prime Minister and JDS patriarch HD Deve Gowda also issued a warning to his grandson Prajwal Revanna to return to India and submit himself to the legal process.
In a letter posted on X, former PM Gowda said, “I spoke to the media about Prajwal Revanna on 18 May when I was headed to the temple to offer pooja. It took me some time to recover from the shock and pain he has inflicted on me, my entire family, my colleagues, friends and party workers. I have already said that he should be given the harshest punishment under the law if found guilty.”
“At this juncture, I can do only one thing. I can issue a stern warning to Prajwal and ask him to return 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. If he does not heed to this warning, he will have to face my anger and anger of all his family members,” the letter read.