Bangalore. Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara on Tuesday indicated that if Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, who is facing allegations of sexual exploitation of several women, does not return to India on May 31, the next process to bring him back from abroad will begin. He also said that the JDS MP will be arrested as soon as he returns. Parameshwara, however, said that the final decision regarding the arrest of the accused MP has to be taken by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). The state government had formed the SIT on April 28 to investigate the case against Prajwal Revanna.
Parmeshwar told reporters, “We have made all efforts across the country to bring Prajwal back. We have written to the central government, we have obtained a warrant against him, which we have informed the Home and Foreign Ministries. Apart from this, a Blue Corner Notice has also been issued. Meanwhile, he released a video message about his return.” He said, “Prajwal’s decision to come back is justified because no one can escape the clutches of law.”
The Karnataka minister said, “It is being said that if he loses the election, his membership will be terminated and his diplomatic passport will also be confiscated. Thinking all this, he must have decided to come back.” The legal process will begin when Prajwal returns. He said, “I don’t know what prompted him to release that video… We will see what happens on May 31. If he does not come, the next process will begin.”
When asked if Prajwal will be arrested at the immigration centre after landing at the airport, Parameshwar said that the SIT will decide this. He said, “A Blue Corner Notice and an arrest warrant notice have already been sent to Revanna to appear before the SIT. The chargesheet and other things will be done later.”
Prajwal had allegedly fled to Germany on April 27, a day after polling in the Hassan Lok Sabha seat, and is still absconding. The SIT had sought information about Prajwal’s whereabouts from Interpol through the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), for which Interpol has issued a ‘Blue Corner Notice’. A special court constituted to hear cases against MPs/MLAs had issued an arrest warrant against Prajwal Revanna on May 18 after the SIT filed an application.
Karnataka
FIRST PUBLISHED : May 28, 2024, 15:57 IST