Hate speech row: Karnataka Police serve notice on BJP MLC CT Ravi in Chikkamagaluru
Synopsis
Karnataka Police arrived at BJP MLC CT Ravi's Chikkamagaluru residence to serve a hate speech notice over his NEET protest remarks — only for BJP workers to tear the notice off the wall. Ravi refused to accept it, accused the Congress government of political targeting, and vowed to appear on his own terms. The episode signals a sharp new front in the BJP-Congress battle in Karnataka.
Key Takeaways
Karnataka Police served a hate speech notice on BJP MLC C.T.
Ravi at his Chikkamagaluru residence on 26 July .
An FIR was registered over Ravi's remark linking 'mullahs' to NEET protests, which drew criticism from the Muslim community.
Ravi refused to accept the notice; police pasted it on his residence wall, after which BJP workers tore it down .
Ravi denied targeting the Muslim community, saying his remarks referred to a specific individual who allegedly tried to set fire to a jeep during a Delhi student protest.
Inspector Abhay Prakash clarified police had come only to serve a notice, not to arrest Ravi, before leaving amid hostile sloganeering.
Ravi said he would appear before investigators after two days , on his own schedule.
Karnataka Police on Sunday, 26 July arrived at the residence of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC C.T. Ravi in Chikkamagaluru to serve a notice directing him to appear for questioning in a hate speech case linked to his remarks during protests against the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). The police action set off a tense standoff outside Ravi's home, with BJP workers and advocates clashing verbally with officers and accusing the Congress-led state government of targeting opposition figures.
The Remark That Triggered the FIR
An FIR was registered against Ravi over his statement: 'If you tear open the chest of mullahs, you won't find three letters and what their connection to NEET protests.' The remark drew sharp criticism from members of the Muslim community and prompted the police action.
Ravi, however, maintained that his words were directed at a specific individual — not a community. 'I spoke condemning the act of a mullah who allegedly tried to set fire to the petrol tank of a jeep in the name of a student protest in Delhi. I have stated the facts as they are and have not spoken against the Muslim community. Condemning the actions of one individual does not amount to insulting an entire community,' he said.
Notice Refused, Then Pasted on the Wall
Chikkamagaluru Town Police Inspector Abhay Prakash led a team to Ravi's residence with a notice asking him to appear before investigators at 11 am on 27 July. Ravi declined to accept the notice, informing officers that he had a pre-scheduled programme and would present himself at the police station after two days. Following his refusal, police pasted the notice on the outer wall of his residence.
BJP workers reacted angrily, tearing down the pasted notice and raising slogans against the police and the state government. Several party supporters and advocates confronted officers, questioning the legal basis of the FIR and alleging selective enforcement by the authorities.
Ravi Challenges Legal Basis of the Case
Ravi questioned the legal provisions under which the case had been registered and pushed back against what he described as politically motivated policing. 'Even after I informed the police that I had a pre-scheduled programme and would personally appear at the police station after two days, they continued to act like puppets of the ruling party. This is a shocking development,' he alleged.
He further argued that the word 'mullah' does not inherently refer to the Muslim community and that his speech contained no reference to religion. 'There is nothing in my speech that promotes hatred against any community. Where in the FIR is the Muslim community mentioned? Does the word mullah necessarily mean Muslim? I did not even use the word religion in my speech,' Ravi said.
Police Response and Escalating Tensions
Inspector Abhay Prakash clarified to the gathered crowd that the visit was limited to serving a notice. 'We are here only to issue a notice. We have not come to make an arrest. The matter will be investigated,' he told the gathering.
As tensions mounted, officers were surrounded by agitated supporters shouting slogans. A visibly strained Inspector Abhay Prakash reportedly remarked that he had never faced such resistance while performing official duties, and warned that obstructing public servants was a criminal offence before leaving the premises.
BJP workers also raised the issue of complaints they had filed against Congress leaders, including All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Mallikarjun Kharge, asking why no action had been taken on those. The incident is expected to deepen the political standoff between the BJP and the ruling Congress in Karnataka.
Point of View
Not legal strategy. Yet the BJP's counter-question about inaction on complaints against Congress leaders, including Kharge, points to a genuine accountability gap that the government has not addressed. If Karnataka Police cannot serve a routine notice without it becoming a street confrontation, the state's law-and-order credibility takes a hit regardless of which side is right.
NationPress
27 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did BJP MLC CT Ravi say that led to the hate speech FIR?
Ravi made a statement during a NEET protest: 'If you tear open the chest of mullahs, you won't find three letters and what their connection to NEET protests.' The remark drew criticism from the Muslim community and led to the registration of an FIR against him in Karnataka.
Why did Karnataka Police go to CT Ravi's residence on 26 July?
Police arrived at Ravi's Chikkamagaluru home to serve a notice directing him to appear for questioning at 11 am on 27 July in connection with the hate speech case. Ravi refused to accept the notice, so officers pasted it on the outer wall of his residence.
What was CT Ravi's defence against the hate speech allegation?
Ravi maintained that his remarks referred to a specific individual who allegedly attempted to set fire to the petrol tank of a jeep during a student protest in Delhi — not to the Muslim community as a whole. He argued that the word 'mullah' does not inherently denote a religion and that he never used the word 'religion' in his speech.
Were BJP workers arrested for tearing down the police notice?
No arrests were reported at the scene. Inspector Abhay Prakash warned that obstructing public servants was an offence but left the premises without making any arrests. He clarified that the visit was solely to serve a notice, not to detain Ravi.
What happens next in the CT Ravi hate speech case?
Ravi said he would appear before investigators after two days, on his own schedule. The matter is under investigation by Chikkamagaluru police, and the political fallout is expected to intensify the BJP-Congress standoff in Karnataka.
