BJP MLC C.T. Ravi produced in Belagavi court, hearing adjourned to 3 p.m. on Dec 20

Belagavi police produce BJP MLC C.T. Ravi in court for alleged derogatory remarks against Karnataka Minister.

Belagavi police produced BJP MLC C.T. Ravi, who has been arrested for his alleged ‘derogatory remarks’ against Karnataka Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, before the local magistrate’s court on Friday (December 20, 2024). After hearing both sides, the judge adjourned the hearing to 3 p.m. today

Officers brought Mr. Ravi to the City Fifth Additional Magistrate’s Court. He was earlier taken to the community health centre where a medical test was conducted.

M.B. Zirli, advocate and BJP spokesperson, sought bail for Mr. Ravi. The lawyer said that the police had ill-treated him, forgetting that he was a MLC and not an ordinary criminal. He said the police had taken him around all night, without giving him proper food. He also said since the alleged offence happened on the floor of the House, the Special Court for Elected Representatives had jurisdiction on the matter and not a local court.

A large number of BJP workers gathered at the court. B.Y. Vijayendra, MLC N. Ravi Kumar, MLA Prabhu Chauhan and others spoke to Mr. Ravi before he was produced before the judge.

He told them that the police kept moving him mindlessly across Dharwad, Belagavi and Bagalkot district limits all through the night. He said he was taken to the hospital only in the morning, after several hours of arrest. BJP leaders like R. Ashok, MLA Sunil Kumar and other leaders also arrived at the court.

Before walking up the stairs of the building, Mr. Ravi told reporters that he was innocent and that he was being falsely accused of a heinous crime by Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar. “I will tell the judge that the police tortured me. They took me all around whole night and did not give me anything to eat,’‘ he said.