In a dramatic pause to an escalating political showdown, the Karnataka High Court on Friday stepped in to protect BJP MLC and Opposition Whip SN Ravikumar from immediate arrest. The interim order puts a freeze on any coercive action against him until July 8, when his plea to quash the case will be heard.
At the heart of the storm is a comment made by Ravikumar during a protest near the Vidhan Soudha. The line that sparked fury: “The Chief Secretary works at night for the State government and all day for the Chief Minister.” The remark, aimed at Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, drew swift backlash, with the Karnataka IAS Officers’ Association condemning it outright.
The case against Ravikumar, filed under Crime No. 66/2025, came days after the incident, allegedly triggered by a complaint from the General Secretary of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee. Ravikumar, in response, claimed his words were twisted out of context and denied any vulgar intent. He argued he was simply referring to the inaccessibility of the Chief Secretary due to her packed schedule.
Represented by Senior Advocate Aruna Shyam, Ravikumar painted the case as a political hit job. “They’re turning this into a circus,” Shyam told the bench, adding that the real motive was to smear his client’s reputation before the public. The petition, filed through advocate Suyog Herele, called the FIR a “politically motivated move” meant to “tarnish the image of the petitioner.”
The State’s response, however, was charged. Special Public Prosecutor BA Belliyappa didn’t mince words. He warned that staying the case would dent police morale, stating, “All the lady IAS officers are up in arms… This man has a habit… He made a similar comment in Kalburgi, calling an IAS officer Pakistani.”
Despite the pushback, Justice SR Krishna Kumar held firm—for now. Ravikumar must cooperate with the investigation, but no cuffs, no detention, until the courtroom reconvenes on July 8.
What started as a political jab has now evolved into a courtroom clash over speech, power, and propriety—setting the stage for a high-stakes hearing next week.
