The Zilla Valmiki Samiti has lodged a formal complaint with the police, alleging that former Member of Parliament Ramesh Katti used a deeply offensive slur against members of their community. This incident reportedly occurred during an interaction with his followers in Belagavi on Sunday, sparking immediate condemnation.
The complainants are pushing for legal action against Ramesh Katti, seeking charges under both the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act and the Prevention of Atrocities (against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Act. They have submitted a video clip as evidence, which purportedly shows the former chairman of the Belagavi District Central Cooperative Bank uttering the abusive word and laughing.
Adding his voice to the growing outcry, Minister Satish Jarkiholi, a respected member of the Valmiki Bedar Nayaka community, condemned Katti’s alleged remarks. He stressed that it is entirely unacceptable for senior leaders to resort to such abusive language against any community, regardless of the context. Jarkiholi affirmed that such actions carry significant legal consequences and that “the law will take its own course.”
Confirming the seriousness of the situation, Police Commissioner Borase Bhushan Gulabrao stated that the complaint has been officially received and a thorough investigation is actively underway.