Council mahazar by CID will not be allowed till it provides more details, says Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti

A day after Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar filed a complaint with audio and video files with respect to C.T. Ravi, BJP MLC, allegedly making obscene remarks at her in the Legislative Council in Belagavi, Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti on Sunday said that as of now he would not allow the Criminal investigation Department to conduct a mahazar (spot investigation) of the Council hall unless the CID provides details in this regard.

A day after Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar filed a complaint with audio and video files with respect to C.T. Ravi, BJP MLC, allegedly making obscene remarks at her in the Legislative Council in Belagavi, Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti on Sunday said that as of now he would not allow the Criminal investigation Department to conduct a mahazar (spot investigation) of the Council hall unless the CID provides details in this regard.

Mr. Horatti, who was in Belagavi to attend a private programme, told presspersons: “Investigators have sought permission to enter the Council hall in Belagavi and conduct mahazar. But they will not be allowed to visit the site in the House as of now till they provide details.”

The case initially registered by the Hire Bagewadi police has now been transferred to the CID.

Mr. Horatti said he would consider allowing investigation into the hall only if the CID officers provided his office with all details of the investigation, including what they would want to do inside the hall.

“The said incident happened on the floor of the House. It was not a fight or assault or anything like that, which could leave some scenes at the spot. So, what will the CID sleuths look for? Will they check the chairs and desks or will they check the floor? Will they bring the complainant and the defendant to the House and seek their statements? Investigators should give complete details. Anyway, I will not be able to take a decision now. I will have to study the matter further,” he said.

In an obvious reference to the Minister’s office’s claims that a complaint with electronic evidence was filed on Saturday, he said that he had received the complaint. “I will ask my staff to go through it and submit a report. It will then be sent for a forensic examination. We will come to our own conclusions after receiving all the reports and take a decision on the matter,” he said.

Mr. Horatti claimed that it was the first time that Ms. Hebbalkar had filed a complaint with him. “Earlier, Mr. Ravi had filed a complaint and we had one side of the story. Now, we have both sides. I will read through all the relevant documents now,” he said.