BengaluruJul 4, 2025 02:39 IST
First published on: Jul 3, 2025 at 17:56 IST
The Vidhana Soudha police on Thursday registered an FIR against BJP MLC N Ravikumar after multiple complaints were filed against him for allegedly making derogatory and vulgar comments directed at Karnataka Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh.
The case was filed under Sections 351(3) (criminal intimidation), 75(3) (sexual harassment), and 79 (insulting a woman’s modesty) of the the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on a complaint filed Nagarathna, a social worker.
The Congress, which filed a police complaint against Ravikumar, said it will also file a petition with Legislative Council chairman Basavaraj Horatti demanding action against the legislator.
The MLC, who is not new to controversies, allegedly made the remarks during a BJP protest in front of the Vidhana Soudha on Monday.
On Wednesday evening, KPCC general secretary S Manohar filed a complaint at the Vidhana Soudha police station, demanding legal action against the MLC for using unparliamentary words referring to the Chief Secretary.
IAS Officers’ Association demands apology
The Karnataka IAS Officers’ Association strongly condemned the derogatory remarks made by the MLC, who is also opposition whip in the Council. “The Chief Secretary holds the highest civil office in Karnataka and is a widely respected officer known for her integrity, commitment, and distinguished public service. The remarks made in public are not just vulgar and defamatory, but they also directly undermine the dignity of her office and the larger civil service,” it said.
A delegation of senior IAS officers Gaurav Gupta, Pankaj Kumar Pandey, Khushboo Goel Chowdhary and Cauvery BB met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and submitted a letter of condemnation on behalf of the association. The association demanded an unconditional public apology from Ravikumar, immediate legal action under applicable provisions of law and a formal resolution of censure in the Legislative Council.
Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar condemned the remarks. “This shows the mentality of BJP leaders. This is neither new nor surprising,” she said.
Rajneesh is a senior IAS official and a role model for thousands of women, the minister said. “It doesn’t matter who the woman is – an officer, Laxmi Hebbalkar or a commoner… Who gave him the right to make such comments?” she asked.
In May, police booked Ravikumar after he said that Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum “may have come from Pakistan”.