Suspended Janata Dal (Secular) leader Prajwal Revanna finds himself at the center of controversy as the Karnataka government pushes for the cancellation of his diplomatic passport. Revanna, who faced accusations of mass sexual abuse and later traveled to Germany, has been summoned to address the request concerning his passport, according to sources familiar with the matter.Upon receiving the formal letter from the Karnataka government, the external affairs ministry initiated the process to revoke Revannas passport. This process necessitates Revannas response to the governments request, following the provisions outlined in the Passports Act. The individuals privy to the matter emphasized the importance of adhering to due process, ensuring that Revanna has the opportunity to provide his side of the story.Serious accusations against Prajwal RevannaDetails regarding how Revanna was contacted to respond to the passport cancellation request remain undisclosed. However, sources suggest that communication methods such as email may have been employed for this purpose. Revanna, a 33-year-old Member of Parliament from Hassan, Karnataka, and the grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, faces serious charges of criminal intimidation and sexual harassment based on numerous videos allegedly depicting him engaged in inappropriate acts with multiple women.Political pressureThe situation has escalated to political dimensions, with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expedite the passport cancellation process. Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar clarified that the ministry swiftly acted upon receiving the request on May 21, stressing the procedural requirements dictated by the Passports Act.Legal proceedingsRevanna has consistently denied the accusations against him, asserting that the videos are manipulated. Nevertheless, a warrant for his arrest was issued on May 18 by a Special Court for Public Representatives, following multiple FIRs filed against him. Despite Deve Gowdas plea for his grandson to return to India and face the law, Revanna remains abroad, contesting the charges from afar.
