Karnataka High Court slams BJP's N Ravikumar for 'Pakistan' comment against Muslim IAS officer

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday took a dim view of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader N Ravikumar reportedly alluding that Deputy District Commissioner of Kalburgi district Fouzia Taranum (IAS) was a 'Pakistani' [Ravi Kumar N v. State of Karnataka]..Ravikumar moved the High Court to quash a criminal case filed against him for commenting that the Deputy Commissioner "might have come from Pakistan." According to reports, Ravikumar on May 24 criticised the district administration in Kalburgi as being influenced by the Congress-led State regime. He added, "The Kalaburagi DC office has also lost its independence. The DC madam is also listening to what they (Congress) say. I don't know whether the DC has come from Pakistan or is an IAS office here.".Justice Suraj Govindaraj today hinted that Ravikumar should have learnt from the recent criticism of BJP leader Kunwar Vijay Shah for a communal statement he reportedly made recently.“What happened in Madhya Pradesh? You want the same to happen? We don't want these statements to be made. You have seen what happened in Madhya Pradesh and the Supreme Court (referring to the Kunwar Vijay Shah case)? You (Ravikumar) cannot be making these kinds of statements! ... What is the statement that you made against the Deputy Commissioner? We will just quote what happened in Madhya Pradesh and what the Supreme Court has said, that's all. That's enough ... Make your apologies to the lady in question, make her accept the apology, place it on record, we will consider then," the High Court said today. .Shah is presently facing a criminal investigation for reportedly making communal statements that targeted Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who was among those who led the media briefing on India's cross-military operation against Pakistan, 'Operation Sindoor.' Shah had referred to Colonel Qureshi as a 'sister of terrorists', since she is a Muslim. He was booked in this criminal case after the Madhya Pradesh High Court intervened. Shah later moved the Supreme Court against the High Court order. The top court granted him interim protection from arrest, but condemned his statement and ordered a special investigation team probe. ."(In Kunwar Vijay Shah's case) Supreme Court has constituted a special task force. Apology was rejected also by the Supreme Court," the High Court noted today while dealing with Ravikumar's plea. Ravikumar's counsel, meanwhile, told the Court that he has already apologised for his remark and urged for the grant of interim protection from arrest. He also argued that there was no reason to cite charges under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (SC/ST Act) in this case. Ravikumar has not uttered a word insulting any person belonging to a scheduled caste or tribe, his counsel argued. The State's counsel, meanwhile, assured that Ravikumar would not be arrested as long as he cooperates with the investigation. The Court recorded the statement and listed the case for hearing in June. A response has been sought from the State as well as the complainant. The Court also asked the State to place on record relevant video clips in a pen drive. Since Ravikumar's counsel submitted that he has apologised for his comment, the Court also called for an affidavit to be placed on record with this apology.