Karnataka: Arrested BJP MLC Ravi complains of assault, torture in police custody

Belagavi: C.T. Ravi, a BJP MLC arrested for making derogatory comments about Karnataka’s Women and Child Welfare Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, has claimed he was assaulted and tortured by police while in custody. Ravi made these allegations during a court appearance in Belagavi, where he was presented by Karnataka police. When questioned by Judge Sparsha M.

Belagavi: C.T. Ravi, a BJP MLC arrested for making derogatory comments about Karnataka’s Women and Child Welfare Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, has claimed he was assaulted and tortured by police while in custody.

Ravi made these allegations during a court appearance in Belagavi, where he was presented by Karnataka police. When questioned by Judge Sparsha M D’souza about his arrest, Ravi stated that police had taken him to three different districts over a span of 10 hours throughout the night.

He described being taken to isolated areas and sugarcane fields, claiming he was assaulted at the Khanapur police station, resulting in bleeding from his head. Although he expressed that he could not identify the officers involved, he stated, “I have been tortured, physically and mentally,” adding that police received instructions via phone calls every 10 minutes.

Ravi also mentioned that he was not informed about the reasons for his arrest and alleged that he had been attacked multiple times within the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha premises. He claimed his mobile phone and watch were confiscated and that he had filed a complaint about the assault, requesting a zero FIR against the minister, which he described as a crime for not being registered. He noted that no leaders were allowed to meet him for two and a half hours.

His lawyer, M.B. Jirali, argued that Ravi was treated like an “animal” during his transport, violating legal protocols and Article 21. He asserted that the case against Ravi was false and criticized the police for preventing Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka from meeting him. Jirali emphasized the need for medical treatment for Ravi and requested bail, highlighting the Speaker’s awareness of the situation.

In the court, senior BJP leaders, including B.Y. Vijayendra and R. Ashoka, were present to support Ravi, who appeared emotional and received comfort from his colleagues. The prosecution has yet to present its arguments against Ravi’s bail petition.