BJP MLC C. T. Ravi, arrested for his controversial remarks about Karnataka Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, being taken to a hospital for a medical check-up, in Belagavi on December 20, 2024.
Belagavi police shifted C. T. Ravi, BJP MLC accused of using abusive word against Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, from Belagavi to Bengaluru after a local court transferred the case to the special court of elected representatives. He was shifted by road.
Sparsh D’Souza, judge of the fifth judicial magistrate first class court, issued an order to produce the accused in the Special Court of People’s Representatives in Bengaluru. The local police sought and obtained a transit order to transfer the accused to Bengaluru.
While the police sought permission to shift Mr Ravi to Bengaluru and transfer of the case to the special court, the advocates for the accused had sought bail.
The judge asked the police how much time they would need to shift the MLC. The investigators said two hours if he is taken by air and 12 hours if taken by road.
Officers of the Hirebagewadi police station produced the MLC in the court around 11 a.m. The court heard the arguments and reserved its judgment.
Before getting into the police van that took him outside the court premises, Mr Ravi accused the Congress of running a dictatorial government in Karnataka. He said that the police had tortured him physically and mentally, based on pressure from the State Government. “This dictatorship will not go on for long. We will put a full stop to it,” he said.
In the court, the accused alleged that he was assaulted by the police three times.
The judge asked Mr Ravi, who was standing in the witness and statement cell with his hands folded, for his name, home town, and profession and asked him if he had anything to say.
Mr Ravi began to explain. “On Thursday evening at around 6.30 pm, the police arrested me at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, then took me to Hire Bagewadi police station in a jeep. From there, they took me to Nandgad police station and then to Khanapur police station. At the police station, they snatched away my mobile phone and then tried to break the smart watch I was wearing while I was talking. There, I was physically assaulted three times. I don’t know who did the assault. I could not identify them. It is possible because there were too many policemen. The police would get a call every 10 minutes and the police would act accordingly. Then, they put me in a police jeep and drove me around all night. The Hire Bagewadi police never said why they arrested me, and some people tried to attack me at Vidhana Soudha itself. They did not even accept my complaint in this regard. They took me around Belagavi, Dharwad and Bagalkot districts till morning. After giving me breakfast at a dhaba in Yaragatti, they took me to the Muthaga Primary Health Center near Sambra. Then, I was brought to Belagavi. I haven’t even had dinner also,” he said.
BJP leaders like R Ashok, Vijayendra, Arvind Bellad and others were present in the court hall.
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Published – December 20, 2024 03:54 pm IST
