Karnataka Police arrested BJP MLC N Ravikumar after a complaint over his provocative comment targeting Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Tarannum. The comment, made while participating in a BJP protest on May 24, compared the IAS officer to a person “from Pakistan.”
The Station Bazaar police station in Kalaburagi registered a case against Ravikumar, who has since withdrawn the comment, calling it a “slip of the tongue.” He also expressed “deep regret” and described his statement as “intemperate but inadvertent.”
The Association of IAS Officers released a fierce denunciation, calling for an “unconditional apology” against the “irresponsible and unacceptable remarks.” In a press release, the association called Fouzia Tarannum “an officer of impeccable integrity” and stated, “Comments made by Ravi Kumar against her are unfounded, unwarranted, and totally bereft of logic.”
The release added that such comments cause “serious mental trauma” and constitute “harassment in service.”
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also condemned Ravikumar’s remark. “His remark is unacceptable and is an incitement to hate,” he said to the media. “The police have aptly registered a criminal case against him.”
Tarannum, preferring to stay grounded in her official responsibilities, refused to comment specifically on the matter. “I would prefer my work to speak for itself,” she stated.
Who Is Fouzia Tarannum?
Fouzia Tarannum is a 2015-batch IAS officer who is the Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate of Kalaburagi. She was earlier in the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) after clearing the UPSC in 2011, and then she joined the IAS in 2014.
She gained national recognition for her contribution to the 2024 general elections by winning the Best Electoral Practices Award from the President of India in January 2025. Fouzia also championed campaigns to popularize Kalaburagi Rotti and re-promote millets in the state and received the Excellence in Governance Award.
