BJP's CT Ravi arrested for alleged derogatory remarks on woman minister, granted bail

Bengaluru:

Karnataka BJP leader CT Ravi, arrested for allegedly making derogatory remarks against a woman Congress MLA in Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's cabinet, was granted interim bail on Friday evening.

“Release him immediately…wherever he is,” the high court said, noting that Mr Ravi was not given notice before his arrest. The protocol states that the police should have done this before interrogating and detaining her on the complaint filed by Women and Child Development Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar.

“…A false case was filed against me and they (Congress) treated me like a terrorist. Now let them introspect what they have done. This is a victory of truth…The message of the order is clear. That we all should follow the law, there was no evidence (but still) I was arrested,'' Mr Ravi said.

“I am not well…I did not eat properly last night and this morning also,” he told reporters.

Mr Ravi was arrested following Ms Hebbalkar's complaint – that he had used objectionable language targeting her in the House; Charges of sexual harassment and using insulting gestures tantamount to sexual harassment were filed under the new criminal law, the Indian Justice Code.

Read | BJP's CT Ravi detained for remarks against women minister

According to Ms Hebbalkar, who had participated in a protest against Home Minister Amit Shah's “Ambedkar is fashion” comment, she was “sitting silently” when Mr Ravi called Congress MP Rahul Gandhi a “drug addict”. “In response I asked, 'Even you have had accidents…does that make you murder?',” she said, alleging that the reply contained abusive language.

The arrest triggered a fierce clash between the two parties, with dramatic scenes of the scuffle between their leaders being circulated on social media.

Reacting to the controversy, another BJP leader, Leader of Opposition R Ashok, said: “This is nothing but '.hooliganismCT Ravi was attacked in the House (but) the Chairman said that no such incident took place. We don't know whether law and order exists or not…we will protest.”

Following this, BJP workers protested in Chikkagaluru and Belagavi, condemning Mr Ravi's arrest and accusing the Congress of targeting opposition leaders. Meanwhile, Congress workers attempted to enter Mr. Ravi's house in Chikkamagaluru, but the police put up barricades and stopped them.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah led the fight, criticizing the BJP for “supporting the use of derogatory language towards women”. “If it is wrong that CT Ravi used abusive language then why was he arrested? Generally women cannot file a false complaint regarding such allegations. It is a crime.”

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also took aim and said, 'There was a discussion going on in the House on the insult of BR Ambedkar by the Union Home Minister and CT Ravi intervened and called Rahul Gandhi a 'drug addict'. Ms Hebbalkar was insulted, he said, when she tried to defend Mr Gandhi.

with inputs from agencies

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