Karnataka BJP MLC C T Ravi was arrested after an FIR was registered against him, for allegedly using a derogatory word against Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar in the Legislative Council on Thursday, police said.
He was taken into the police van from the premises of Suvarna Vidhana Soudha.
Based on the complaint filed by the Minister, a case was registered against the BJP leader under sections 75 (sexual harassment) and 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, a senior police officer said.
While Ravi has denied the allegation calling it “false” and staged a protest, Congress leaders said Hebbalkar has made a complaint to the Legislative Council Chairman.
There was a high drama on the last day of the winter session of the Karnataka legislature here on Thursday, with Woman and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar accusing C T Ravi of using a derogatory word against her in the Legislative Council. Ravi earlier served as National General Secretary of BJP.
When reporters asked her about the incident outside the House, Hebbalkar merely said, “I’m pained….” Earlier, claiming to be supporters of Hebbalkar a group of people from Belagavi angrily approached Ravi within the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha premises here, but were stopped by the security staff. Some even staged a protest against Ravi outside, and they were whisked away by the police.
According to Congress leaders, Ravi allegedly used the derogatory word several times against Hebbalkar during an altercation between them, after the House was adjourned shortly earlier in the day, by Chairman Horatti, following an uproar over Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on B R Ambedkar.
Speaking to reporters, Congress MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah said the incident happened after the Chairman adjourned the House, and that he was standing two rows behind Hebbalkar at that time.
There was a war of words between Hebbalkar and Ravi, and as she made certain comments against him, he used derogatory words against her, he said. “I initially couldn’t believe that an MLC could use such a word and waited for confirmation. He could be heard using that word and walking out. Later Hebbalkar herself came and told a few of us about it, with pain.” “We have complained to the Chairman and sought his (Ravi) expulsion. The Chairman has assured action after verifying audio and video,” Yathindra, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s son, said.
Meanwhile, responding to a question on the allegation Ravi said, “Her allegations are false, let the audio and videos get verified, I will speak after that. I won’t say anything now. This is not the right time to answer this question. I’m not someone who will abuse someone personally. I have not abused her, I don’t know why she felt that way.” “I have not said anything to her….I have not made any personal comments against her, as she is claiming,” he added.
Later, Ravi staged a protest along with some of his BJP colleagues alleging that there was an attempt to attack him in the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, based on a false allegation, and termed it as “goonda raj”.
“If I have used such derogatory words, show it….there should be a police investigation, Laxmi Hebbalkar is making false allegations, on her instigation, people had come shouting slogans in favour of her and against me,” he said.
Speaking to reporters, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “He (Ravi) used a filthier word to Laxmi Hebbalkar, who is a Minister in my cabinet, and it amounts to a criminal offence,” he said.
When told that Ravi has denied allegations, the CM said, “Everyone is saying that he used the word ten times, I don’t know, I was not there in the Council. Council members came and told me Ravi had used a filthy word. Laxmi Hebbalkar is pained, it is in a way sexual harassment against her.” After Hebbalkar approached the Chairman with a complaint, Horatti asked Council secretariat staff to check the video and audio related to the incident.
However, according to official sources, the recording team informed him that they had stopped recording when the incident happened, as the House was adjourned.
The Chairman later, when the Council proceedings resumed, said he heard Hebbalkar and Congress MLCs Umashree, Balkis Banu, Yathindra Siddaramaiah and Nagaraj Yadav, who gave their statements accusing Ravi of using a derogatory word, in his chamber.
He said, later, Ravi also met him and said that he had not used any derogatory word as being alleged, but claimed he only told her that she was “frustrated”.
Detailing about the proceedings, the Chairman, before adjourning the House ‘sine die’ said, “In my long political career, I have never come across such an incident where derogatory terms have been used inside the house by the members. I believe that no woman will falsely complain publicly alleging derogatory words were used against her. However, I request the complainant and the person who was accused to introspect. Being elected representatives we need to be the role models in the society as people look up to us.”
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