External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has disclosed that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) received a request to impound the passport of Janata Dal Secular MP Prajwal Revanna, who fled to Germany last month amid allegations of sexual assault, only on May 21. The ministry acted promptly upon receiving the request from the Karnataka government, initiating the necessary legal procedures.
Revanna is facing a probe by a Special Investigative Team (SIT) constituted by the Karnataka government over allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation following a complaint by a woman who worked in his household.
In an exclusive interview, Jaishankar clarified the procedural aspects, saying, “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.”
Emphasizing the adherence to legal procedures, Jaishankar stated, “We immediately acted on it. On 23rd of May… we have to follow a certain procedure, and the procedure is initiated.”
When asked about the Congress government’s accusations against the BJP of shielding Revanna, Jaishankar responded, “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 amid a political storm surrounding Prajwal Revanna ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The Karnataka government constituted an SIT on April 27 to probe the allegations against Revanna after explicit videos allegedly involving him surfaced on social media.
Despite the allegations, Prajwal Revanna has vehemently denied the accusations, asserting that the circulated videos are doctored. The formation of the SIT came following recommendations by the state women’s commission, indicating the seriousness with which the matter is being addressed by authorities.
On Thursday, JDS supremo and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda issued a stern warning to his grandson Revanna to return to India and face the law in the obscene video case. In a letter posted on X, the former PM urged his grandson to return if he had any respect left for him, stating, “I believe in answering my conscience. I believe in God, and I know the almighty knows the truth.”
Earlier, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to cancel the Diplomatic Passport of JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, who is facing an SIT probe over the allegation of sexual harassment, “along with prompt and concerted actions to secure his return to India.”
(Inputs from ANI)