The Special Investigation Team (SIT)
investigating the alleged sexual assault charges
against Janata Dal (Secular) party MP Prajwal Revanna has informed Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is likely to issue a Blue Corner notice against him. Revanna
fled to Germany on a diplomatic passport
after the accusations surfaced.
Prajwal is the grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda. Prajwal and his father, Holenarasipura MLA H.D. Revanna, have been implicated in a sex scandal reportedly involving multiple women.
What are Blue Corner notices?
According to the Interpol website, Blue Corner notices deal with gathering information about an individual in relation to a criminal investigation. They are “international requests for cooperation or alerts allowing police in member countries to share critical crime-related information.”
The CBI refers to it as ‘B Series (Blue) Notices’. “The ‘B’ series notices are also called ‘enquiry notices’ and may be issued in order to have someone’s identity verified; to obtain particulars of a person’s criminal record; to locate someone who is missing or is an identified or unidentified international criminal or is wanted for a violation of ordinary criminal law and whose extradition may be requested,” it’s website states.
For example, in January 2020, Interpol issued a Blue Corner notice to aid in the search for the fugitive self-proclaimed godman Nithyananda. This action came after the Gujarat Police requested the agency’s assistance.
What are INTERPOL notices?
INTERPOL Notices serve as international requests for cooperation or alerts, facilitating the sharing of vital crime-related information among police agencies in member countries.
These notices are issued by the General Secretariat upon the request of a member country’s INTERPOL National Central Bureau and are accessible to all member countries through our Notices database.
Additionally, notices can be issued at the behest of International Criminal Tribunals and the International Criminal Court (ICC) to locate individuals wanted for crimes falling within their jurisdiction, such as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. They may also be requested by the United Nations for the enforcement of sanctions imposed by the Security Council.
While most Notices are strictly for police use and remain confidential, an excerpt may be published on our website if the requesting country intends to alert the public or solicit their assistance. All United Nations Special Notices are made public, says INTERPOL’s website.
What types of colour-coded INTERPOL notices are there?
What is the difference between a red notice & a blue notice?
The main difference between a Blue Corner notice and a Red Corner notice lies in their purpose and timing. A Red Corner notice is issued by a member state to apprehend a wanted criminal for extradition or similar legal action. These notices are typically issued after criminal convictions or when arrest warrants or court decisions have been issued.
On the other hand, a Blue Corner notice is issued prior to the filing of criminal charges, often to locate individuals or gather information about them.
When a Red Corner notice is issued, the individual can be detained and arrested while traveling through a member state, and there may be additional consequences such as the freezing of bank accounts.
However, Interpol cannot compel law enforcement agencies in any country to arrest the subject of a Red Corner notice, as the decision to do so is discretionary.
For example, in 2018, Red Corner notices were issued against fugitive billionaires Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi in connection with the Punjab National Bank scam, reported The Hindu. However, in October 2022, Interpol declined a second request by India to issue a Red Corner notice against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, whom the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs had listed as a “terrorist” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA).
Interpol stated that India had not provided sufficient information to support its case and that Pannun’s activities had a “clear political dimension,” which does not fall within the scope of a Red Corner notice according to Interpol’s regulations.
Can nations misuse Interpol’s notice system?
While Interpol’s Constitution prohibits any activities of a political nature, critics argue that the organisation has failed to effectively enforce this rule. Russia has particularly drawn scrutiny for repeatedly issuing notices and diffusions for the arrest of Kremlin opponents.
Human rights activist Bill Browder, known for exposing corruption in Russian state-owned companies, has faced multiple red notice requests allegedly orchestrated by Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Freedom House, Russia is responsible for 38% of all public red notices.
Also Read:
What is a diplomatic passport that JD(S) MP Revanna used to flee from India?
Other countries, including China, Iran, Turkey, and Tunisia, have also been accused by international human rights groups of abusing Interpol’s notice system for authoritarian purposes.
In response to mounting criticism, Interpol has implemented stricter oversight of its red notice system. However, vulnerabilities persist, particularly concerning the issuance of blue notices, which experts argue are less likely to undergo thorough review before publication.
Data from the agency indicates that the number of blue notices has approximately doubled over the past decade.
Countries like Turkey contend that exercising restraint in issuing notices impedes police cooperation and assert that Western nations should not interfere in their internal affairs, reported The Hindu.
In 2021, Turkey publicly criticised Interpol for refusing to publish 773 red notices against followers of Fethullah Gulen, an exiled religious leader accused of plotting a coup attempt against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2016.
Rape allegations against Revanna father-son duo
H.D. Revanna is currently facing two FIRs.
The Holenarasipura town police registered a case on 28 April after pen drives containing 2,967 files went viral in the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency. A 47-year-old woman lodged a police complaint alleging sexual abuse by Prajwal and his father.
The second FIR was lodged against H.D. Revanna and his associate Sathish Babanna in Mysuru on Thursday (2 May, 2024) night, accusing them of kidnapping a woman who is reportedly another victim of sexual abuse.
Also Read:
How HD Deve Gowda’s grandson Prajwal, son Revanna are embroiled in a sex scandal in Karnataka
Additionally, the CID in Bengaluru filed another FIR against Prajwal on Wednesday. This action was initiated based on a complaint from a JD(S) party member, who claimed to have been raped by the MP at gunpoint.
Prajwal, who has been suspended from JD(S), reportedly left the country on 27 April, the day following the second phase of Lok Sabha polls on 26 April. His advocate had requested a seven-day delay for him to appear before the SIT. However, the investigative team responded that such a provision does not exist.
With inputs from agencies
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