Ravi's plaint referred to privileges panel

The Legislative Assembly on Thursday referred the allegations levelled by BJP MLA from Chikmagalur, C T Ravi, against Janashri TV channel to the privileges committee for a probe.

Ravi, who moved a privilege motion seeking the House’s intervention into the ‘defamatory packaged news’ aired by the news channel recently, said he had done no wrong, yet he was being victimised by ‘political rivals with vested interests’.

He also appealed to the House to introduce media regulations to curb such cases, in which “innocent public representatives are intentionally projected in bad light”.

He said journalism had become an ‘industry’ and that most media organisations had been running a ‘racket’ in ‘packaged news’ format.

Ravi is facing charges that he misused his authority as a member of the Chikmagalur Urban Development Authority and grabbed land belonging to poor farmers through his relatives at a throwaway price to set up a water park, at Hiremagalur in Chikmagalur.

There is also a complaint with the Lokayukta in which he has been accused of obtaining three civic amenity sites and housing plots in the district, along with his wife, in violation of rules.

“The channel has aired the package without even seeking my clarification,” he alleged.

Law Minister Suresh Kumar said media organisations should verify facts before telecasting any information. JD(S) leader H D Revanna said it was wrong to impose restrictions or regulations on the media, as the Fourth Estate enjoyed the freedom of speech. Speaker K G Bopaiah referred the matter to the privileges committee.