Karnataka Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) C.T. Ravi for allegedly delivering a hate speech while commenting on the NEET paper leak protests sweeping the country. The FIR was registered by Chikkamagaluru Town Police on Saturday, 25 July, following directions from the Principal Civil Judge and Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court in Chikkamagaluru.

What the FIR Says

The complaint was filed by Mudassir Pasha, president of Jamia Masjid in Chikkamagaluru, who stated he came across Ravi's remarks on social media. The FIR has been registered under Section 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to statements conducing to public mischief.

According to the FIR, Ravi allegedly made the remarks while addressing a gathering after a protest march organised by the Youth for Nation organisation in Chikkamagaluru. He reportedly said, 'What is the connection between a mulla and the NEET examination? A mulla, who is completely illiterate, comes and participates in a NEET protest.'

The Alleged Remarks in Full

Ravi allegedly went further, stating: 'They are demanding the resignations of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I want to ask these illiterate people: What is the connection between the NEET question paper leak and the CAA and NRC? Anti-national elements and members of the ‘tukde tukde gang’ who oppose the CAA and NRC are participating in these protests and delivering speeches.'

He reportedly also asked the gathering, 'Do you know who these people in the ‘tukde tukde gang’ are? They are the same people who raised the slogan, ‘Bharat tere tukde honge, Insha Allah, Insha Allah.’'

The complainant alleged that Ravi was attempting to spread hatred between communities, specifically targeting the Muslim community, and that the statements were intended to disturb peace and communal harmony.

Muslim Federation Demands Arrest

The Karnataka State Muslim Federation has urged the government to take immediate action against Ravi over the allegedly provocative remarks. Suhail Maroor, media coordinator of the Federation, demanded Ravi's immediate arrest.

In a statement, the Federation said the Union government had been rattled by youth-led protests over the NEET paper leak and alleged that BJP leaders were, 'as usual', attempting to communalise the matter by targeting Muslims. The Federation described Ravi's remarks as 'inappropriate and undignified.'

Broader Context: NEET Protests and Communal Fault Lines

The NEET paper leak controversy has triggered nationwide protests demanding accountability from the Union government, with calls for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Critics argue that attempts to link the student-led protests to communal or anti-national narratives risk deflecting attention from the core demand for examination integrity.

This is not the first time political figures have been accused of injecting communal angles into non-religious public debates during election cycles. The Chikkamagaluru FIR adds a legal dimension to what has until now been a largely political controversy over India's most contested medical entrance examination. How Karnataka Police and the courts proceed will be closely watched.