BJP Leader C.T. Ravi Faces Scrutiny for Deploying Unrelated Video in Legal Defense
Legislator C.T. Ravi allegedly utilized a misleading video from a Bihar road-rage incident to justify remarks made during a Chikkamagaluru protest. Police have registered a case against the MLC for promoting hatred after he refused to accept an official legal notice.
Controversy Surrounding Misidentified Footage
BJP MLC C.T. Ravi attempted to deflect accusations of hate speech by presenting video evidence that fact-checkers now claim is entirely unrelated to the event in question. During a press briefing in Chikkamagaluru on Sunday, Ravi asserted that his previous comments targeted a specific individual who allegedly attempted to ignite a vehicle's fuel tank during a NEET-related demonstration. However, the footage he displayed to support this defense has been identified by experts as a clip from a road-rage incident in Gaya, Bihar, occurring well before the recent academic protests.
Mohammed Zubair, co-founder of Alt News, publicly challenged the authenticity of the MLC's evidence on social media. Zubair noted that the video shows a mob vandalizing an SUV in Bihar, not a NEET protester in Karnataka. The journalist further questioned if legal consequences would follow for the dissemination of misleading content used to validate controversial rhetoric.
Refusal to Accept Service and Legal Escalation
The situation follows a formal complaint filed by the Chikkamagaluru Town police. The authorities booked Ravi for promoting communal hatred stemming from a July 23 protest. This is not the first time Ravi has faced such scrutiny; he was previously booked for remarks concerning a student demonstration at Jantar Mantar. When law enforcement officers attempted to serve Ravi a notice at his residence on Sunday, the legislator reportedly rejected the document and maintained that his comments were directed at criminal activity rather than any specific community.
The interaction at Ravi's home reached a standoff, leading officers to use alternate service methods:
- Police officers pasted the legal notice directly onto the wall of Ravi's residence after his refusal to accept it.
- Supporters of the BJP MLC reportedly removed and tore the notice shortly after the police departed.
- The investigation continues to examine the discrepancy between Ravi's stated defense and the actual origins of the Gaya video.
Source: The Hindu — Home
