Harassment case against C T Ravi: Karnataka HC to rule on validity of FIR booked over incident in legislature

The curate for women and kid improvement has accused C T Ravi of utilizing a derogatory word against her during a spat successful the Legislative Council betwixt BJP and Congress leaders regarding an alleged insult to B R Ambedkar successful Parliament by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The Belagavi constabulary registered a lawsuit of intersexual harassment and outraging the modesty of a pistillate against C T Ravi, 58, and arrested him aft the Congress curate lodged a ailment connected December 12, 2024. He was released 2 days aboriginal aft the precocious tribunal granted him bail.

The BJP legislator has present sought the quashing of the lawsuit against him. During the arguments, the tribunal was informed that the president of the Legislative Council had closed the proceedings concerning the ailment raised by the Congress legislator.

A elder counsel representing the BJP MLC referred to the Supreme Court’s seven-judge seat bid successful Sita Soren vs Govt of India to reason that what transpires betwixt legislators successful a legislature is privileged and enjoys immunity from transgression proceedings. It was besides argued connected behalf of C T Ravi that “whether the location was sitting oregon otherwise, the words spoken wrong a legislature by the legislators cannot go the taxable substance of crime”.

However, the authorities nationalist authoritative contended that transgression acts occurring wrong the legislature cannot beryllium considered to bask privilege from prosecution.

“Therefore, the contented present boils down to the question of jurisdiction: whether the Speaker would instrumentality the contented and adjacent the proceedings, oregon if a transgression tin beryllium permitted to beryllium registered and investigated by immoderate prosecuting agency,” the precocious tribunal said.

The incidental occurred astir 1 p.m. successful the Legislative Council connected December 12, 2024, erstwhile the House was adjourned aft Congress MLCs protested against Amit Shah’s remarks astir Ambedkar. As Congress MLCs and ministers entered the Well of the House, BJP MLCs besides followed them, holding posters featuring Ambedkar. C T Ravi was accused of calling Hebbalkar a “prostitute” during an ensuing verbal duel. She besides filed a ailment with the Legislative Council chairman, Basavaraj Horatti, regarding the incident.