Mysuru: The Police are still clueless about Santro Ravi alias K. S. Manjunath who has been charged with rape, sexual assault, forceful marriage and abuse in name of caste. Ravi soon absconded after the case was booked against him by Vijayanagara Police in City on January 2. The photos in which Ravi posing with Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Home MinisterAraga Jnanendra and BJP National General Secretary C. T. Ravi went viral. The Congress Party published these photos on its Twitter handle and accused BJP Government of having brokers for transfers. An audio clip in which Ravi is speaking with a Deputy Superintendent of Police level officer went viral in the media, in which Ravi is heard demanding money for transfer and even assuring any place in the State, claiming he has close links with top politicians.
All these documents are causing a slugfest between the Ruling BJP and Opposition JD (S) as well as Congress parties. Former Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy alleged that Ravi sent girls to Mumbai to serve rebel 17 MLAs of Karnataka in 2018.
Speaking to mediapersons, Kumaraswamy alleged that on Sunday January 8 that the picture was taken at State Home Minister Jnanendra’s house has Santro Ravi counting money. Kumaraswamy challenged the State Government to order a thorough probe into how Ravi is so close with BJP Leaders and what kind of relationship they share.
The Congress in a series of tweets alleged that the Ruling BJP Government have kept brokers to collect money through transfers of officers.
Further, BJP in a tweet alleged that Opposition parties are creating fake news to tarnish the image of the BJP. It said many people visit Chief Minister’s house and can we indict anyone for just posing for a picture?
Speaking to mediapersons at Mysuru Airport Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai ruled out he nor his family members have any contact with Santro Ravi. When asked about Ravi posing with him in a photo Bommai said that, “You cannot decide based on the photograph but the main issue is that there is a case against him and we have ordered for thorough probe against Ravi for the past twenty years. He stresses he never chattes or not spoke with Ravi and in today’s technology anyone can create such chats.”
“We have formed six teams under the leadership of various ACP and inspectors to nab the accused. All the teams are working in different directions,’’ said City DCP Muthuraj. Refusing to disclose the details of the investigation he said that the police have clues of his hideout and would nab him soon.
Ravi has been absconding after a Dalit woman aged 26 filed a complaint against him at Vijayanagara Police Station charging of sexual harassment, rape, threatening to life and abuse in name of caste. According to Police Ravi raped a mechanical engineering graduate and also a gold medalist when she visited his office as a job seeker. Later he married her and assaulted her, forced her to sleep with others, and even forcibly got an abortion done apart from demanding a dowry of Rs. 10 lakh, it is alleged.
Based on the complaint, Vijayanagar Police has registered a case against Santro Ravi under the provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act, SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and under IPC Section 506 (threatening life) 498A (harassment), 504 (insulting intentionally), 376 (rape), 270 (infecting disease), 313 (abortion without woman’s consent) and 323 (assault).
Sources said that the accused owns four houses in Mysuru and 5 to 6 houses in Bengaluru and has been using these houses for prostitution.
