Cancel Prajwal Revanna’s diplomatic passport, CM Siddaramaiah tells PM Modi; MP seeks a week

In the letter, Siddaramaiah said that Prajwal had fled the country after several women victims came forward to file complaints against him on April 28. “Sensing the impending police case and arrest, the accused Member of Parliament and NDA candidate for Lok Sabha, Prajwal Revanna, has fled the country and travelled abroad on April 27. It is learnt from reports that he is travelling abroad on his Diplomatic Passport,” the letter said.

Getting him back to the country is of utmost importance “so that he faces investigation and trial as per the law of the land”, Siddaramaiah said. He requested the Prime Minister to “kindly move the Ministries of External Affairs and Home Affairs to take swift action to cancel his Diplomatic Passport and to take such other steps using Diplomatic and Police Channels of the Government of India as well as International Police agencies to ensure the swift return of the absconding Member of Parliament…”

Speaking to reporters, Siddaramaiah accused the Central government of helping Prajwal flee the country. “To fly abroad, who issues passports? Who issues the visa? Did he leave without their (Centre’s) knowledge… If they (BJP) are pro-women, why was he given a ticket despite knowing about all this,” he asked.

On Wednesday, Prajwal said in a post on X that he was unable to appear before the SIT. “As I am not in Bangalore to attend the enquiry, I have communicated to CID Bangalore through my advocate. Truth will prevail soon,” he wrote.

A letter addressed to SIT chief B K Singh by Prajwal’s lawyer sought seven days for him to appear before the investigating officers.

Earlier in the day, the SIT team visited H D Revanna’s residence at Holenarasipura and issued notices. “Revanna has informed the team that Prajwal, who is currently in Germany, will return to India on May 3 and is likely to appear before the police on May 4,” he said.

Prajwal was suspended from the party on Tuesday in light of the allegations. The party announced that he will remain suspended from the party until the SIT submits its report.

Holenarasipura town police had registered a case after pen drives with 2,967 files went viral in Hassan constituency. A 47-year-old woman filed a complaint with the police alleging that she was sexually abused by Prajwal and his father Revanna. The father-son duo were booked under IPC sections 354 (a) (sexual harassment), 354 (d) (stalking), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 509 (intending to insult the modesty of any woman).

As videos of the alleged abuse continued to be shared on various online platforms, Dr Nagalakshmi Chowdhary, chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Women, said that those sharing the videos will face strict consequences. “The Women Commission has written to the police department urging them to take immediate and severe action against such individuals,” she said in a post on X.