Bengaluru:

After a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation met Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot regarding the arrest of BJP MLC CT Ravi, Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, on Tuesday, condemned the treatment of Ravi.

He claimed that CT Ravi was arrested and then transported throughout the night without food or water, adding that he was treated like a terrorist.

Mr Narayanaswamy further demanded a judicial inquiry into the matter.

“Ashok ji, Bommai ji and MLAs met governor…CT Ravi was arrested and the whole night he was carried here and there without water and food…he was handled like a terrorist…we demanded a judicial inquiry into this…” said Mr Narayanaswamy.

MLC CT Ravi was arrested by the Bengaluru police on Thursday based on a complaint by state minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar for allegedly using derogatory remarks against her in the Legislative Council. He was subsequently released after an interim order passed by the Karnataka High Court on Friday.

Minister Hebbalkar on Friday replied to the alleged derogatory remarks made at the Karnataka legislative assembly, while speaking to reporters at her residence in Belagavi, Karnataka.

Expressing her distress over the alleged remarks, she said that when the BJP leader called Rahul Gandhi a “drug addict,” she asked whether his being in accidents made him a murderer.”

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday condemned the alleged derogatory remarks of CT Ravi, calling it “a criminal offence.”

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi accused the Congress government in Karnataka of “misusing” power days after interim bail was granted to the BJP MLC CT Ravi.

Mr Joshi stated that it is a misuse of power. Congress does not believe in democracy and the Constitution. He further alleged that Congress is trying to misuse not only the power, but they are also trying to curb the political activities of their political opponents.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Belagavi:

In a major development, the police in Karnataka took Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC CT Ravi into custody on Thursday evening from the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha here for allegedly making derogatory remarks against a woman minister in the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led Cabinet.

The action came after a complaint was filed by Minister for Women and Child Welfare, Laxmi Hebbalkar. She alleged that Ravi used highly objectionable language on the floor of the House.

The police registered an FIR based on Laxmi Hebbalkar’s complaint under Sections 75 and 79 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) for sexual harassment and using insulting gestures amounting to sexual harassment.

CT Ravi was taken into custody by the police while he was staging a protest along with BJP members. He was taken away from the venue of protest and shifted into a police van.

Laxmi Hebbalkar also submitted a complaint to the Chairperson of the Legislative Council, Basavaraj Horatti.

BJP MLAs and MLCs staged a protest inside the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, condemning the alleged attack on BJP MLC CT Ravi related to the incident.

Reacting to the development, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka said: “This is nothing but ‘goondagiri’ by the Congress. CT Ravi was assaulted on the floor of the House. The Chairperson of the Legislative Council, Basavaraj Horatti, has given a ruling that no such incident took place. There is no record supporting the allegation. We don’t know whether a law and order system exists in the state. We will protest.”

Chairperson of the Legislative Council Basavaraj Horatti commented that the members need to introspect in the wake of this incident.

“I have spoken to Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar and BJP MLC CT Ravi regarding the matter. The issue has been closed. I am the custodian of the House, and I take responsibility for its smooth functioning,” Horatti stated.

Meanwhile, Congress workers attempted to barge into CT Ravi’s residence in his hometown of Chikkamagaluru. The police erected barricades and blocked the way of the protesters.

Protests were also staged in Bengaluru, Belagavi, and other locations.

The issue was raised in the Legislative Assembly by Congress MLA Sharat Bache Gowda. Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka objected, stating that the Chairperson of the Council had given a ruling on the matter and there was no scope for discussing it in the Assembly.

Minister for Law HK Patil stated that obscene words were used, and Minister Laxmi was insulted.

“This is a heinous act. Members must respect each other, and their protection is the duty of the government,” he said.

Chaos and drama unfolded as, during a heated debate session earlier in the Council, CT Ravi allegedly referred to Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi as a “drug addict”.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)