'Just Because She's Muslim, Can't Call Her Pakistani' : Karnataka High Court Raps BJP MLC For Remark Against IAS Officer

The Karnataka High Court on Friday [August 7] pulled up BJP MLC N. Ravikumar for his alleged communal remark against Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum, calling the senior IAS officer as 'from Pakistan' during a protest.“…She is an IAS officer of the state… I will not pardon the fact of a statement being made just because she is a Muslim that she is from 'Pakistan'. I will not spare that. She is an IAS officer of the state of Karnataka. What is that statement you have made...” the single judge bench of Justice M. Nagaprasanna orally questioned the MLC today.The court was hearing a petition filed by Ravikumar N., a BJP Member of the Legislative Council, seeking to quash criminal proceedings against him pending before a Bengaluru Special Court for Trial of Cases against MPs/MLAs.The petitioner is accused of making the 'Pakistani' remark against the Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner during a protest rally. The protest was held in connection with the alleged detention of BJP Leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, the Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council, for nine hours in a government guest house earlier in May 2025.According to the petitioner, he had only made a remark during the 'Kalaburagi Chalo' March stating that 'all police officers are slaves of in-charge minister'.The State informed the Court that the Kalaburagi administration had not given permission for the protest holding the national flag.“…How do you [MLC] pin the IAS officer on the basis of religion… I am not on the question of Yatra at all… definitely you have the right to protest. You can conduct Yatras. But such statements cannot be made…”, the court iterated orally.The court stressed that political leaders must exercise restraint in their public statements.“…Both of you should stop. Speak of what is to be done for the welfare of people. Not against each other. Nobody[politicians] talks about policies. Nobody talks about burning issues. People are not interested in whatever you speak to each other or wash your dirty linen in public. They are interested in what their welfare is…”The Court further remarked:“…. Whatever be the party, you should forthwith stop all of this. Only mudslinging on each other. I am not saying it's party A or party B or party C. Everyone has some self-respect in everything. You can't go on talking….”The petitioner's counsel submitted that an apology letter had been sent to the IAS officer immediately after the incident.However, the Court questioned whether the apology would undo the damage caused by the statement:“…Your apology letter would take away the statement you made? On merits you can answer but this is not the way…”When the petitioner's counsel argued that the protest was a “Tiranga Yatra” and that the Kalaburagi administration had stopped them from holding the national flag, the Court responded strongly.“…Just because someone holds a national flag and goes, is it wrong? It's a Tiranga Yatra…”The Court added:“…If those people[state] stopped you from holding the national flag and going, we will impose costs on them. Nobody can stop anyone from holding a national flag…. But you can't make such statements about the IAS officer”, the court added.The Court directed the State to produce records of the representation given by the protesters and stated:“…Give me records of what representation they gave and to hold what protest. But if I see holding the national flag was there in the representation and you[state] stopped them from going with the flag, we will look into it. I will not spare you[MLC] for talking like that either”.The protest was organized in connection with the alleged detention of Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, the Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council. According to reports, ruling Congress workers had confined the Leader of Opposition inside a guest house in May 2025.A Kalaburagi resident filed a complaint against Ravikumar, after which a police case was registered under Section 196(1)(a)(b) of the BNS and Section 353(2) of the BNS, 2023.While hearing the matter, the court also expressed concern over the proliferation of frivolous cases clogging the criminal justice system:“…Criminal courts are filled with such frivolous cases. Why? Because you don't hold your tongue. Murder, extortion cases are pending because these cases are there…”, the court orally remarked further.The matter will be taken up again on August 20, 2026, by which time the State would be required to produce the records of the protest representation.Case Title: Sri Ravi Kumar N. v. State of Karnataka & Anr.Case No: Crl.P No. 11959/2026

'Just Because She's Muslim, Can't Call Her Pakistani' : Karnataka High Court Raps BJP MLC For Remark Against IAS Officer

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'Just Because She's Muslim, Can't Call Her Pakistani' : Karnataka High Court Raps BJP MLC For Remark Against IAS Officer

Sebin James

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