Janata Dal MP Prajwal Revanna came to light when several women complained about him on multiple counts of rape and sexual harassment. After the allegations, he came to light again with the news of his escape to Germany on a diplomatic passport.
The external affairs ministry informed on Thursday (May 2nd) that no visa note was issued for Revanna to travel to Germany.
What is a diplomatic passport? What’s so different?
Unlike normal passports, which have blue covers and are valid for ten years for adults and five years for minors, diplomatic passports have maroon covers and are valid for five years or less. Holders of such passports also get special access and powers. Holders of Diplomatic passports have privileges and immunities as per international law, including immunity from arrest, detention, and certain legal proceedings in the host country.
These diplomatic passports are issued by the Consular, Passport and Visa Division of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Who gets a diplomatic passport?
There are five categories under which a diplomatic passport is issued:
First, is those with diplomatic status.
Second, are government-appointed individuals travelling abroad for official business.
Third, include officers working under branches A and B of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), normally rank of Joint Secretary and above.
Fourth are relatives and immediate family of officers working under IFS and MEA.
Fifth, are individuals who are authorized to undertake official travel on behalf of the government.
How did Prajwal Revanna travel without a visa?
Typically, MEA issues government officials with visa notes when going abroad for any official assignment or visit. But in Revanna’s case, MEA has said that they haven’t issued any such visa notes.
“No political clearance was either sought from or issued by MEA in respect of the travel of the said MP to Germany. Obviously, no visa note was issued either,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Thursday.
He was able to travel without a visa because Germany is among those 34 countries with whom India has operational visa exemption. This allows holders of diplomatic passports to travel without a visa note, provided the stay doesn’t exceed 90 days.
India has similar agreements with countries such as France, Austria, Afghanistan, the Czech Republic, Italy, Greece, Iran, and Switzerland. India also has agreements with 99 other countries wherein apart from diplomatic passport holders, even those holding service and official passports can avail of operational visa exemption for stays up to 90 days.
Prajwal, the now-suspended Janata Dal party leader and grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, still had to apply for prior political clearance for any such private visit.
Janata Dal MP faces action
The Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the sexual abuse case and has requested the central government to revoke Revanna’s diplomatic passport.
However, the Government has revoked the passport yet. “As regards the possible revocation of the passport of any individual, I would refer you to the relevant provisions of the Passport Act 1967. We are not in receipt of any directions from any court in this regard,” the MEA spokesperson said.
