BJP workers welcome CT Ravi at party office after bail in derogatory remarks case

BENGALURU: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and leaders on Saturday welcomed suspended party MLC C T Ravi as he arrived at the party office in Bengaluru after the Karnataka High Court granted him bail in a ‘derogatory’ remarks case filed by Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar.

“We reached Bengaluru around midnight. All along, our party workers, leaders and wellwishers had lined up, in anxiety before I was granted bail and in happiness after bail was granted. I am grateful to all of them and to the media. I am also grateful and thankful to all the lawyers who fought for me”, he said at the party office before addressing a press conference.

To a question on whether the government is trying to wash its hands off the issue, he said, “Let’s see if they will rectify their mistake at least now or if they deliberately committed a mistake and are trying to justify it now. In a democracy, the responsibility lies with the ruling party, the Opposition too has responsibilities. But the ruling party has more responsibility as regards law and order and personal liberties”.

Hebbalkar has alleged that CT Ravi used derogatory words against her in the Legislative Council. The decision came after the court’s single-judge bench, headed by Justice M G Uma, issued an interim order for his release. Ravi had been arrested following allegations stemming from a complaint by Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, which led to the legal action.

Speaking after his release, C T Ravi, in a statement, said, “Our custodian was the Council Chairman, when our custodian clearly said and gave ruling, a false case was filed against me and they treated me like a terrorist, let them introspect what have they done. It’s a win for the truth, this High Court order clear message that we all must follow the law. Though there was no proof against me I was arrested.”

BJP leader CT Ravi’s son Swarthak Surya.

CT Ravi’s son, Swarthak Surya called it a “big relief” and affirmed his faith in the judiciary. He further said that he had unwavering faith in his father’s innocence in the case and he would never use such language for anyone, especially women.

“I was shocked when I heard the allegations. I know my father, he would never use such abusive language for anyone, especially women. He treats everyone with respect, whether young or old. I never doubted my father for a moment”, Surya said.

“There were a lot of emotions in the last 24 hours. I was worried a lot, especially when I saw that he was arrested. I do not even understand why was there such a sudden arrest. Especially considering the fact that he even had a head injury. When he was released, it was a big relief”, Surya added.

On Friday, Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar addressed the alleged derogatory remarks made by C T Ravi during the Legislative Assembly session. Speaking to reporters at her residence in Belagavi, she expressed distress over the incident.

Hebbalkar recounted, “After completing the protest (against the remarks of Amit Shah), I was sitting quietly in my seat. At that time, CT Ravi called Rahul Gandhi a drug addict. In response, I asked, ‘Even you have been in accidents–does that make you a murderer?” (ANI)