Apologise to Karnataka IAS officer: High Court to BJP MLC for 'Pakistani' remark

The Karnataka High Court orally asked BJP MLC N Ravikumar to tender an apology for his controversial remark against Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum, where he allegedly referred to her as a “Pakistani”.

The observation came from a vacation bench of Justice Suraj Govindaraj while hearing Ravikumar’s petition seeking to quash the FIR registered against him over the remark.

“These are not the statements to be made. You have seen what happened in Madhya Pradesh and the Supreme Court, with a sitting minister. You are no different, you cannot be making such kind of statements,” the judge remarked.

Ravikumar landed in trouble after he questioned the IAS officer’s handling of a local incident involving the arrest of a BJP leader and allegedly made a communal reference, allegedly linking her to Pakistan.

The comment triggered political backlash, with Congress MLCs submitting a formal complaint to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Thursday, demanding legal and constitutional action.

“I don’t wish to comment on this matter. It’s a personal decision, and I believe that should be respected. I’d rather let my work speak for itself. Let me focus on getting things done,” said Fouzia Taranum, senior IAS officer known for her administrative work in Kalaburagi.

The police have booked Ravikumar over his comments.