In a controversy that has sparked widespread condemnation, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC N Ravikumar has been booked for allegedly making a communal remark against senior IAS officer Fouzia Tarannum during a protest in Karnataka’s Kalaburagi on May 24.
The Station Bazaar police have registered a case against Ravikumar after he reportedly said of the Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner, “She seems to have come from Pakistan,” while accusing her of working on the instructions of the ruling Congress party.
The remarks, made during a BJP demonstration, quickly drew sharp criticism. On Tuesday, the IAS Officers’ Association issued a strong statement condemning Ravikumar’s comment as “irresponsible and unacceptable,” and demanded an “unconditional apology.”
“Fouzia Tarannum, IAS, is an officer of impeccable integrity with an exemplary track record and deep dedication to public service and the State,” the association said. “Remarks made by Ravi Kumar against her are baseless, unjustified, and entirely devoid of rationale. Such provocative and false statements not only malign the dignity of committed civil servants but also inflict severe mental trauma and amount to harassment in the line of duty.”
The association further expressed deep concern over what it described as an attempt to publicly undermine the reputation of a dedicated officer, reaffirming its solidarity with Tarannum.
Under pressure, Ravikumar expressed regret and called his comment a “slip of tongue.” “I offer my deep regret for the intemperate but inadvertent remark made against the deputy commissioner,” he said in a statement.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also reacted strongly, calling the statement “intolerable” and “hate-inducing.” “So, the police have booked a criminal case against him. I strongly condemn his statement,” the CM told reporters.
Meanwhile, Fouzia Tarannum has refrained from commenting directly on the controversy. “I would rather let my work speak for itself,” she said, continuing to focus on her duties in Kalaburagi.
Tarannum, a 2015-batch IAS officer, has earned praise for her governance work and recently received the Best Electoral Practices Award from the President of India in January 2025 for her exemplary performance during the 2024 elections. A former Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, she later joined the IAS to serve the public more directly and has led several innovative initiatives in Kalaburagi, including promoting local millet consumption and branding regional foods like the Kalaburagi Rotti.
