An arrest warrant against absconding JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, accused of alleged rape and sexual harassment, is expected to be followed by a red corner notice. Permission was granted by the special court for elected representatives to cancel Prajwal Revanna’s passport, but the question still remains: Where is Prajwal Revanna?
It is learnt that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) is now preparing a detailed dossier to convert the blue corner notice issued in Prajwal’s name to a red corner notice by the CBI, which would lead to the cancellation of Prajwal’s passport. It is learnt that there have been efforts and multiple communications with the Centre by the SIT to track and trace the whereabouts of the absconding MP, who is known to be travelling on a European visa and was last seen in Germany.
A senior Karnataka police officer with experience in handling red corner notices across international borders said that there are a few technical formalities that the SIT has to get clearances for. “With their jurisdiction largely restricted within Karnataka, in this case, since he (Prajwal) is a fugitive, the SIT would have to take the help of the CBI and MHA to bring him back. The process is lengthy but can be expedited based on the urgency of the case,” said the officer who did not want to be named.
Interpol Notices Explained by Colour
As per Interpol’s notices, which are colour-coded based on severity and importance, there are seven types: Red Notice, Yellow Notice, Blue Notice, Black Notice, Green Notice, Orange Notice, and Purple Notice. A Red Notice is issued when a criminal’s location is traced, and they are wanted for prosecution or to serve a sentence. A Blue Notice, which is presently against the Hassan MP’s name, allows authorities to collect information on the person’s identity, location, and criminal activities if they have fled the country.
Senior Supreme Court Lawyer and former Karnataka State Public Prosecutor (SPP) BT Venkatesh weighs in. In his opinion, for more than a decade, Indian investigating agencies have used algorithms and top notch technology to trace suspects, absconders, or wanted criminals, and the same could be done to trace Prajwal’s whereabouts.
“We can check which airport he has landed at, the number he has been using or the SIM card obtained in a new country, get details of the hotel he has checked into, even the restaurants or purchases made in shops. In today’s time and technology, one can trace up to 6 feet of his surrounding area,” said Venkatesh.
He also explained that some information may not be available to the state police (Karnataka in this case). When a diplomatic passport is used to get a SIM card or a new number, the details can only be secured by the central government. “This could be why the state police have found it time-consuming to get information in tracing his movements,” he said.
“When a person has a diplomatic passport, his blue passport (one given to an Indian national) is surrendered. The central government has the authority to withdraw the diplomatic passport, and on doing this, any privilege the person has will be lost, and he will become an ordinary citizen. Once this withdrawal is communicated, the state police can write to the MHA with the case against him and seek the suspension of his passport. Once done, they can seek the issuance of a red corner notice,” said the senior lawyer while explaining the procedure.
Political Storm
According to officials in the CMO, the Hassan MP was last tracked to Munich, Germany and every effort is being made to bring him to India to proceed with the investigation. He left India using his diplomatic passport a day after April 26, when Karnataka’s first phase of polling took place where his constituency, Hassan, also voted. On April 30, Prajwal’s legal counsel had sought seven days’ time for the MP to be present before the SIT as “he was travelling abroad.” He has remained incommunicado since.
When News18 asked Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge why there has been a delay in bringing Prajwal to India, as the MP has been on the run since April 27, he replied, “The central government really needs to step in.”
Kharge said that the SIT finds its hands tied as it does not have jurisdiction outside the state. “To operate or investigate outside Karnataka, they would need to seek intervention or help from local agencies of that state. So how can we do anything that involves another international operation without the cooperation of the central government? Has the Centre cancelled his diplomatic passport? Has the MHA taken a decision, given the grave allegations that he has sexually abused thousands of women, to cancel his passport? We are not seeking cancellation of his citizenship, but the basic procedure to be followed to bring him back to India,” Kharge said.
Amid this political storm, Prajwal’s grandfather and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda finally broke his silence on the scandal within his family. Gowda said there would be action against Prajwal. HD Revanna, Prajwal’s father and a former Karnataka minister, was arrested by the Karnataka Police on May 4 on the charge of kidnapping a woman who allegedly was one of Prajwal’s victims. Revanna was granted conditional bail after spending ten days in prison.
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