Karnataka High Court grants interim relief to BJP MLC Ravikumar booked for insulting Chief Secretary

The Karnataka High Court on Friday granted interim relief to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) and Opposition Whip SN Ravikumar in connection with a criminal case recently registered against him on allegations that he made insulting and vulgar remarks about Karnataka Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh.

Justice SR Krishna Kumar has ordered the State not to take any coercive action against Ravikumar till his plea to quash the case is heard on July 8, Tuesday. In the meantime, Ravikumar must cooperate with the ongoing police investigation, the Court added.

Ravikumar was booked after he allegedly made certain derogatory remarks aimed at Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh during a protest meeting near the Vidhan Soudha.

He is alleged to have said that “The Chief Secretary works at night for the State government and all day for the Chief Minister."

The comment drew backlash from various quarters, including the Karnataka IAS Officers’ Association.

Ravikumar later issued a statement, denying any vulgar intent in his remarks, adding that he only meant that the Chief Secretary was so busy that it was difficult for others to meet her.

Representing Ravikumar in Court today, Senior Advocate Aruna Shyam decried the criminal proceedings initiated against the BJP leader as being politically motivated. He said that there was a context to Ravikumar's remarks and that the State-regime was twisting the statement to suit their own purposes.

"Now they are making hue and cry, making it a political issue," Shyam added while urging the Court to stay the case.

Ravikumar's petition, filed through advocate Suyog Herele of Aruna Shyam Associates, said,

"This is nothing but a politically motivated move in order to humiliate and tarnish the image of the petitioner in the society. The said incident took place on 30-06-2025 and a Complaint was made 2 days later by the General Secretary of the KPCC to the Respondent police as well as the Hon'ble speaker of the Legislative Council ... Later as an afterthought the Respondent No.2 complainant has been setup by the political party in power and the impugned FIR in Crime No.66/2025 came to be registered ... Respondent no.2 (complainant) is neither a victim nor an aggrieved person; only to please their political masters, this complaint has been lodged by projecting (Ravikumar's comment) in a different context altogether."

The State, represented by Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) BA Belliyappa, today vehemently opposed any grant of stay on the case, arguing that police morale will take a hit if the Court were to halt the investigation.

"The entire lady IAS officers are up in arms.. He has a habit of making such statements... He utters these words under the statue of Gandhi. It was Gandhi's dream that women can walk freely in the night (without fear) ... Simultaneously he has moved anticipatory bail, he cannot be protected here ... Morale of police will come down (if such cases are stayed) ... If need arises, he has to be arrested ... He has done this in Kalburgi, saying IAS officer is from Pakistan.. he has a habit," the SPP said.

However, the Court eventually told the State not to take any coercive action against Ravikumar till the matter is next heard.

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