Bengaluru: Police storming the legislature, hauling a lawmaker away on their shoulders in full view of the media, a dramatic declaration, and a bloodied forehead—these visuals could easily be mistaken for a thrilling blockbuster. Yet, they depict real-life events unfolding during and after the arrest of senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader C.T. Ravi at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, Karnataka’s legislature building.
The high drama continued into the early hours of Friday, with Ravi, the former national general secretary of the BJP, claiming that his life was under threat.
His arrest Thursday from the premises of the state legislature in Belagavi came after he allegedly referred to Karnataka’s Women and Child Development Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar as a “prostitute”.
Around 1.30 am, Ravi recorded a 1.48-minute-long video message in front of a jail cell, claiming he was being treated worse than a criminal.
“At 8 pm, I was brought to Khanapur Police Station, but they are not telling me the sections under which I have been charged. The police have not registered my complaint for several hours now…I asked them to file a ‘zero’ FIR, but they are not doing it. They are now plotting to take me to another place and I don’t know where. My life is under threat,” Ravi said.
A few hours later, the BJP released more pictures of Ravi receiving treatment for a head injury, with blood streaming down his face. He later staged a protest in the middle of the street—likely while being taken to another location—reiterating his claim that his life was under threat.
At least one FIR, seen by ThePrint, filed based on Hebbalkar’s complaint, details the specific derogatory comment allegedly made by Ravi. He has been booked under section 75 (sexual harassment) and 79 (words/gestures used to outrage modesty of a woman) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). ThePrint explains what actually happened inside the legislature.
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‘Not informed of arrest’
The BJP and Congress clashed inside the ongoing winter session of the Karnataka legislature in Belagavi over remarks made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah Tuesday regarding B.R. Ambedkar.
Shah’s comments in the Rajya Sabha—suggesting it had become “fashionable” to chant Dr Ambedkar’s name and claiming people would have secured a place in heaven had they instead chanted the name of God—sparked widespread protests across the country. The impact was felt in Congress-ruled Karnataka, where the Siddaramaiah-led government displayed pictures of Ambedkar on every single treasury bench during the winter session.
In the Legislative Council, the heated exchanges prompted House Chairman Basavaraj Horatti to adjourn the session for 10 minutes.
Around 1 pm, Ravi was seen holding a picture of Ambedkar while arguing with Lakshmi Hebbalkar, who was seated opposite him. Hebbalkar then appeared to make remarks while pointing at Ravi. It is alleged that she called him a “murderer” in reference to a February 2019 incident when the BJP lawmaker’s SUV collided with a parked car, killing two young men. During the argument, Ravi reportedly called Congress leader Rahul Gandhi a “drug addict”.
Ravi is then heard using the term “prostitute” multiple times.
“The house was adjourned for 10 minutes, after which Congress and we (the Opposition) faced off, with media cameras present. During the confrontation, the words ‘murderer’ and ‘druggists’ were used. However, aside from that, no other derogatory comments were made, based on what I heard,” T.A. Sharavana, Janata Dal (Secular) MLC said to reporters Thursday evening.
Sharavana was standing right next to Ravi during the exchange.
Soon after, the ruling and Opposition parties came to blows as they jumped into the well of the house, forcing marshals to intervene.
“The alleged derogatory term was uttered around 1-1.30 pm when I had adjourned the house. Ravi was arrested around 5.30 pm outside (the House),” Horatti told ThePrint.
When asked whether the statements made inside the house were protected by privilege, Horatti clarified that such rules existed 20 years ago.
Constitutional experts have said that members of the legislative are protected under privilege against being charged for any comments made during the course of a debate on the floor of the house. “Members have immunity against defamation but not a criminal offence. In this case, using the term ‘prostitute’ constitutes harassment and outraging the modesty of a woman,’ said a former senior advocate of Karnataka and a Congress leader, requesting anonymity.
Also, the remarks were made when the house was adjourned with the chairman not presiding on his seat.
Moreover, since the house was not in session at the time of the arrest, Horatti stated that it did not fall under his jurisdiction.
Horatti stated that, according to the rules, the police should have informed him about the impending arrest, but they failed to do so.
In his explanation to the council chairman, Ravi said that he used the word “frustrate” and not prostitute.
‘This is a case of sexual assault’
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that Ravi’s remarks amounted to sexual assault.
“A member of the Legislative Council @CTRavi_BJP used obscene language towards a minister @laxmi_hebbalkar, which is a criminal offence. Lakshmi Hebbalkar has complained to the Speaker and the police in this regard. Let’s see what legal action will be taken,” he wrote in an X post.
Our parishad members who were around there are saying that C.T. Ravi abused her more than ten times with very derogatory words. Lakshmi Hebbalkar, who was hurt by Ravi’s words, has filed a complaint. Since this is a case of sexual assault, the police will take action as per criminal procedure,” he added.
The BJP called it a ‘well-oiled conspiracy’ to deflect attention from the corruption allegations against Siddaramaiah. The incident has also given the BJP a chance to put up a united front after several months of growing factionalism.
BJP state president, B.Y. Vijayendra has rushed to Belagavi to back Ravi, a vocal detractor of the B.S. Yediyurappa family.
Ravi is seen as part of the rebel faction within the BJP who have openly opposed Vijayendra’s elevation as party chief and criticized Yediyurappa’s dominant control over the party’s affairs.
To prevent any potential escalation of conflict between Karnataka’s two main political parties, police personnel who were initially deployed to maintain law and order during the two-week-long winter session are now stationed throughout Belagavi.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
