Supreme Court Stays Trial Against Karnataka BJP MLC CT Ravi in Derogatory Remarks Case Involving Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar
New Delhi, May 19, 2025 – The Supreme Court of India today stayed the trial against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Legislative Council (MLC) CT Ravi, accused of making derogatory remarks against Karnataka Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar during a Legislative Council session in Belagavi on December 19, 2024. The decision, reported by LiveLaw and shared on X by @LiveLawIndia, grants interim relief to Ravi, halting proceedings initiated after the Karnataka High Court refused to quash the First Information Report (FIR) against him on May 3, 2025. The case, which has sparked political and legal debates over legislative immunity and gender-based offenses, centers on allegations that Ravi used an obscene term against Hebbalkar, prompting charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Background of the Case
The controversy erupted during the winter session of the Karnataka Legislative Council at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi. The session was adjourned amid a heated exchange over Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on B.R. Ambedkar, with Congress MLCs, including Hebbalkar, protesting in the Well of the House alongside BJP MLCs holding Ambedkar posters. During the verbal altercation, Ravi allegedly called Hebbalkar a “prostitute,” a claim she reported in a complaint filed with the Hirebagewadi police on December 19, 2024. The FIR charged Ravi under Sections 75 (sexual harassment) and 79 (outraging the modesty of a woman) of the BNS, with the case later transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further probe.
Hebbalkar’s complaint followed her accusation that Ravi repeatedly called Congress leader Rahul Gandhi a “drug addict,” to which she retorted by labeling Ravi a “murderer,” referencing his alleged involvement in a prior case. The exchange escalated tensions, leading to Ravi’s arrest that evening at the session venue. He was granted bail the next day, December 20, 2024, by the Karnataka High Court, with his supporters celebrating outside the BJP office in Bengaluru, as noted in posts by @ANI on X.
Karnataka High Court Ruling
Ravi sought to quash the FIR, arguing that his remarks, made on the floor of the Legislative Council, were protected by legislative immunity under Article 194 of the Constitution. His counsel, Senior Advocate Prabhuling Navadgi, cited the Supreme Court’s ruling in Sita Soren vs. Union of India, claiming that interactions between legislators in the House enjoy blanket protection from criminal prosecution. However, on May 3, 2025, the Karnataka High Court, presided over by Justice M. Nagaprasanna, rejected Ravi’s plea, ruling that the alleged remarks had “no nexus” to legislative duties and thus did not qualify for immunity. The court emphasized that criminal acts, such as outraging a woman’s modesty, are not shielded by privilege, stating, “No Nexus; No Privilege.”
Justice Nagaprasanna noted that the alleged use of the term “prostitute” constituted an offense under BNS Sections 75 and 79, warranting investigation. The prosecution, representing Hebbalkar, argued that legislative privilege applies only to actions related to the House’s functioning, not personal or derogatory remarks. The court’s decision, reported by sources like Hindustan Times and The Indian Express, dismissed Ravi’s claim of absolute immunity, prompting his appeal to the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court’s Intervention
On May 19, 2025, the Supreme Court issued a stay on the trial, providing temporary relief to Ravi. The court’s order, as reported by LiveLaw, pauses the criminal proceedings pending further hearings, likely to examine the scope of legislative immunity under Article 194(3) and its application to alleged criminal acts in the legislature. The stay follows the Karnataka High Court’s earlier interim order on January 23, 2025, which had halted police action against Ravi until January 30 to assess jurisdictional issues, including whether the Speaker or external agencies like the police have investigative authority.
The Supreme Court’s intervention has drawn attention to the balance between legislative privilege and accountability for criminal conduct. The case also raises questions about the handling of gender-based allegations in political spaces, with Hebbalkar challenging Ravi to swear his innocence before Lord Manjunatheshwara at Dharmasthala, a symbolic gesture reported by ProKerala.
Political and Public Reactions
The case has fueled a political firestorm in Karnataka. Congress leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, criticized Ravi, dismissing his claims of receiving a threat letter demanding an apology as “drama” and urging him to apologize for his remarks. The letter, reported on January 11, 2025, by Hindustan Times, threatened harm to Ravi and his son if he did not apologize within 15 days, though it did not explicitly name Hebbalkar. Ravi, in turn, questioned the CID’s probe, alleging bias and dismissing rumors of a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) test confirming his voice in the incident, as noted by The New Indian Express.
Public sentiment on X reflects polarized views. Posts by @NewsArenaIndia and @LutyensMediaIN highlighted Ravi’s arrest and the allegations, with @PanditSaibpal noting Hebbalkar’s condemnation of the BJP’s “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” slogan as hypocritical given Ravi’s remarks. Supporters of Ravi, as seen in @ANI’s coverage, celebrated his bail, while critics like @DrJain21 condemned his alleged language as reflective of broader issues within the BJP.
Broader Implications
The Supreme Court’s stay delays a resolution but keeps the spotlight on critical issues: the limits of legislative immunity, the accountability of public officials for derogatory remarks, and the treatment of women in political discourse. The case also intersects with broader BJP-Congress tensions in Karnataka, where internal BJP dynamics, such as Ravi’s veiled criticism of state president B.Y. Vijayendra in March 2025, add complexity.
As the Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments, the outcome could set a precedent for how legislative privilege is interpreted in cases involving alleged criminal acts. For now, the stay offers Ravi respite, but the controversy continues to reverberate, with Hebbalkar’s legal battle underscoring the fight against gender-based insults in India’s political arena.
Sources: LiveLaw, Hindustan Times, The Indian Express, The Hindu, Deccan Herald, ProKerala, ETV Bharat Posts on Xweb:0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24post:0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7