New Delhi, 24 May

In a significant revelation, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has disclosed that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) received a request only on 21 May to impound the passport of Janata Dal Secular MP Prajwal Revanna, who fled to Germany last month amid allegations of sexual assault.

Revanna is facing a probe by a Special Investigative Team (SIT) constituted by 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 with ANI, 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 21 May."

Asked about Congress government's accusations against BJP of shielding Revanna, Jaishankar said, "They did not take the first step... I mean, he's not the first case where impounding a passport is taking place."

It’s a family matter: DKS

Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that it is a "family matter" of the Gowdas and he will not be "intervening" into it.

Responding to a reporter about the letter written by the Janata Dal Secular patron to Hassan MP, Shivakumar said, "I am sorry it is a family matter. I don't want to intervene."

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 says he is not aware of where his grandson is but has warned him to return home and face the law. ANI