The Supreme Court of India has stayed the trial proceedings against CT Ravi, a Member of the Karnataka Legislative Council (MLC) from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The case revolves around allegations that Ravi made derogatory remarks against Congress MLA Laxmi Hebbalkar on the floor of the Karnataka Legislative Council last year.
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The bench, comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Rajesh Bindal, was hearing an appeal against the Karnataka High Court's decision, which had refused to dismiss the case registered against CT Ravi. He was charged with offences under Sections 75 (sexual harassment) and 79 (outraging the modesty of a woman) of the BNS Act, 2023.
On May 19, the Supreme Court issued a notice in the case and stayed the trial proceedings. The primary argument presented by Ravi's legal team was that his statements were made as part of his official duties in the Legislative Council on December 19, 2024. They argued that such statements were protected under parliamentary privilege.
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Ravi's legal team emphasized that the immunity for members of Parliament and state legislatures is clearly defined under various provisions of the Constitution:
- Article 105(1): Grants freedom of speech in Parliament.
- Article 105(2): Provides immunity from legal proceedings for anything said or voted in Parliament.
- Article 122(1): Prohibits courts from questioning the validity of parliamentary proceedings on procedural grounds.
- Article 194: Extends similar privileges and immunities to state legislators, including Karnataka.
They also cited Section 135A of the Civil Procedure Code (CPC), which protects members from arrest in civil cases during parliamentary sessions and for 40 days after the session ends.
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The Karnataka High Court had earlier dismissed Ravi’s petition, rejecting his claim of privilege. Justice M Nagaprasanna, while delivering the order, stated:
"Alleged word spoken, if spoken or gesture made if made against the women, the complainant, certainly outrages her modesty and it above all cannot have any nexus to the functioning of the house or relation to the transaction of the house, no nexus no privilege, petition dismissed.”
Current Status
Following the High Court's decision, CT Ravi was arrested on December 19, 2024. He was later released on bail, and he then moved the Supreme Court, seeking to quash the charges against him.
The petitioner was represented by Senior Advocate Manan Kumar Mishra, with Dr. Ram Sankar as the Advocate on Record (AOR).
Case Details : Shri CT Ravi v. State of Karnataka & Ors | SLP(Crl) 7859/2025
