how-did-suspended-jds-leader-revanna-flew-to-germany-without-a-visa-note

Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, a suspended JDS Leader, allegedly involved in a sex scandal, has purportedly left the country using a diplomatic passport to avoid arrest.

 

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, who established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the matter, has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to instruct the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to facilitate Revanna's return for interrogation.

 

Siddaramaiah also urged PM Modi to revoke Revanna’s diplomatic passport and utilize diplomatic, law enforcement, and international channels to ensure the swift repatriation of the fugitive MP to face legal action.

 

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified on Thursday that no visa note was issued to Revanna, but he didn't require one for his travel to Germany.

 

The MEA's Consular, Passport, and Visa Division issues diplomatic passports ('Type D' passports) to individuals falling into five main categories: those with diplomatic status, government-appointed officials traveling abroad for official duties, officers serving under branches A and B of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), typically at the rank of Joint Secretary and above, and relatives and immediate family members of IFS and MEA officers.

Normally, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issues visa notes to government officials traveling abroad for official purposes.

 

However, in Prajwal's situation, no such note was issued. "No political clearance was sought from or issued by the MEA regarding the travel of the mentioned MP to Germany. 

 

Consequently, no visa note was issued earlier," stated MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Thursday.

This is because Germany is one of the 34 countries with which India has operational visa exemption agreements for holders of diplomatic passports.

 

Under a reciprocal agreement signed in 2011, holders of Indian diplomatic passports are not required to obtain a visa for visits to Germany, as long as their stay does not exceed 90 days. 

 

India has similar agreements with countries such as Italy, France, Afghanistan, Iran, among 90 others.

 

Under these agreements, not only diplomatic passport holders but also those with service and official passports can benefit from operational visa exemptions for stays of up to 90 days.

 

Nevertheless, Prajwal ought to have sought prior political clearance even for a personal visit.

 

As per the latest bulletin issued by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, "Members using a diplomatic passport are mandated to apply for prior political clearance directly to the MEA through the online portal and ensure that the necessary political clearance is obtained before traveling abroad. Requests should ideally be submitted at least three weeks in advance."