Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday denied any involvement in the police action and arrest of BJP MLC CT Ravi for allegedly using abusive language against minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar.
Calling Ravi a “dirty mouth”, he accused the former BJP national general secretary of using derogatory words against several people in the past.
“Will they go to Khanapur police station and hold a BJP meeting? (Regarding BJP leaders meeting Ravi at the station) … The police have shown a lot of courtesy towards him. The behavior of the police is also not good. How did the police allow him to meet? We will not interfere in anything,” Shivakumar said.
Talking to journalists, he said, ‘Family members or one or two may go and meet, but they were meeting inside (police station)… Then what is the allegation of trying to kill Ravi? After the arrest, Ravi accused the police of violating human rights by keeping them under siege all night in various places of the district.
He claimed that the police were acting under the instructions of someone ‘from above’ and criticized the state government and administration as ‘dictatorship’.
Terming the anger of Hebbalkar’s supporters against Ravi as “natural”, the deputy chief minister said, “Their leader, their daughter, was insulted. Why is the BJP protesting now? They are doing this because their leader is under influence.” Calling Ravi a ‘dirty’ mouth, he said, Not new to Ravi. He used words against many people in the past… He even called Siddaramaiah Khan… This is his culture Based on the complaint filed, a case was registered against the BJP leader on Thursday under Sections 75 (sexual harassment) and 79 (words, gestures or actions insulting the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Judicial Code.
Ravi allegedly used abusive language against Hebbalkar in the Legislative Council on Thursday, when the House was temporarily adjourned.
In response to a question, Shivakumar said that if the audio/video of the incident is not in the media, it will be made public within the council.
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