India, May 2 -- The Karnataka high court on Friday refused to quash the criminal case against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC CT Ravi, who was booked by the Belagavi police last year for allegedly making an obscene remark against state women and child development minister Laxmi Hebbalkar on the floor of the legislative council.

Justice M Nagaprasanna dismissed Ravi's petition seeking to quash the FIR, ruling that the BJP leader was not entitled to any legislative immunity for comments unrelated to his legislative duties.

Ravi had moved the court seeking quashing of the FIR, arguing that he was entitled to the "blanket immunity" granted to members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) under Article 194(2) of the Constitution.

Senior couns...