Did the Belagavi police drive BJP legislator C.T. Ravi in a car all through the night at the behest of a "powerful" Congress leader" after his arrest on Thursday evening?
Ravi, who was arrested from Suvarna Soudha for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, stated that the behaviour of the police was very "suspicious", as he was being driven around the district in the night on the pretext of being taken to Bengaluru.
“The police arrested me without issuing a notice on the grounds for my arrest, or telling me where they were taking me. For nearly four hours from 11.45 pm, they drove me through three districts and made frequent halts on the highway to take orders from some influential leader on the phone,” alleged Ravi, who was released on bail after the High Court ordered for his “immediate release” on Friday, citing “procedural lapses” during his arrest.
READ MORE: CT Ravi granted interim bail, BJP asks how protestors got access to Suvarna Soudha
The saffron party leader, who was being brought to Bengaluru from Belagavi, was released midway, at Davangere, following the court order.
Addressing a press meet at the BJP office on Saturday, Ravi claimed that the Congress government was behaving like a “goonda” and did not follow any protocol or procedure while arresting a people’s representative. He also made serious allegations of the Congress hatching a “plot” to kill him.
“The hidden agenda of Congress was exposed by the media, which followed my every step. I am grateful to the media, which, in a way, protected me from harm. I shudder to think what would have happened to me if not for the media, my party leaders and partyworkers following my car,” said Ravi.
Recalling the sequence of events that took place inside the House, Ravi said during the discussion on Amit Shah’s remarks on Dr B.R. Ambedkar, the BJP members had narrated how Congress had humiliated Ambedkar, defeated him in the elections, and denied space for his burial in Delhi.
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“The House was adjourned and when it resumed, both sides were shouting slogans. I came out to address the media and after the press meet, two reporters told me the Congress was making allegations that I had used derogatory words. The Council chairman has already given a ruling after hearing both sides. All matters are now known to the almighty and one’s conscience,” said Ravi.
Narrating the last 30 hours of his ordeal, Ravi said his car was attacked when he was returning to Suvarna Soudha after lunch. “The marshals saved me and took me into the building. That is when I learnt the Congress has made statements before the media. Some persons tried to threaten me and attack me and told me they would pack off my dead body to my hometown. After the marshals detained those persons, I sat on a dharna. Council chairman summoned me, and I explained to him what had transpired. The Chairman told me he had not found any evidence to prove Hebbalkar’s claims and suggested I give my explanation. Later, around 5.30 pm, the chairman gave a ruling and adjourned the House sine die. But the Congress leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Laxmi Hebbalkar started verbally abusing me in singular,” alleged Ravi.
The chairman directed the ADGP (Law and Order) to ensure that the BJP legislator reached home safely. “I tried to file a complaint against those who attacked me. I even sat on a dharna. But at 6.30 pm, the police took me to Hirebagewadi police station and then to Khanapur police station. When I told him that if they arrested me, they had to give me notice. The local BJP MLA arranged for an advocate but they were not allowed to meet me. Later, when LOPs Chalavadi Narayanaswamy and R. Ashok came to the police station, the advocate was allowed,” recalled Ravi.
The Hindutva leader, who is the former national general secretary of the party, said he asked the police to lodge a zero FIR against those who attacked him. “But they refused. They also sent BJP leaders out of the police station on some pretext and isolated me. I made a video and shared it with my party leaders as I did not feel safe. I sat on a dharna,” said Ravi, claiming he was huddled into a Scorpio car.
“I noticed my head was bleeding. Around 11.45 pm, I noticed the car had moved to Nandgad and when I asked for drinking water as I was feeling nauseated, the police did not respond. They drove towards Kittur and blocked the way by barricading to prevent the media and my personal assistant from following my car. They told me I was being taken to Belagavi city but I saw we were in front of the Dharwad high court. They gripped my hands so tight that it led to a blood clot,” recalled Ravi.
The party leaders and party workers who wondered about the whereabouts of Ravi were finally relieved as the BJP leader managed to send his live location to his wife in Chikmagalur.
“My car went through Savadatti, Ramdurg Yadwad and roads that lead to sugarcane fields. There were at least 6-8 policemen with me and their behaviour was suspicious as they stopped the car at random places and made phone calls. It appeared they were taking orders from someone. I was denied water and access to the toilet as we drove through deserted roads. But when the car finally reached a dead end and near a stone quarry, I panicked and demanded to know what their intent was. The reporters had managed to reach the spot on motorbikes and I asked them if they intended to kill me as they were taking me circles for the last four hours. When they tried to snatch my phone, I resisted and threatened them of consequences. I hurt my head in a scuffle that followed. They took me to a PHC near Ankalagi and got my wound dressed. But they did not share the medical report with me,” said Ravi, who is also Tamil Nadu election in-charge.
Stating that the police behaviour was “suspicious”, and he feared for his life, Ravi said he was produced before the JMFC court in Belagavi the next morning. “I narrated my ordeal before the judge,” said Ravi.
Former Mysuru MP Pratap Simha slammed the congress government for flouting all norms. “The Chairman said there was no audio or video recording against Ravi, and asked how can police arrest Ravi from Suvarna Soudha without following due procedure. Last time, when supporters of Rajya Sabha member Nasir Hussain’s chanted ‘Pakistan zindabad’, the ruling Congress defended them and action was initiated only after the FSL report confirmed their offence. If the plight of people’s representatives is so bad, imagine the common man’s fate,” said Simha.
Shivakumar mocked Ravi saying he was a “habitual offender” and asked BJP to admit that badmouthing women was their culture.
