Bengaluru Court Orders Rahul Gandhi to Appear on June 7 in BJP Defamation Case - 2024-06-02

Bengaluru Court Orders Rahul Gandhi to Appear on June 7 in BJP Defamation Case

In a significant legal development, a special court in Bengaluru has directed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to appear before it on June 7 in a defamation case filed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The case pertains to alleged 'defamatory' advertisements issued by the Congress party during the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections.

The private defamation suit was filed by Keshav Prasad , MLC and general secretary of the BJP, over the 'Corruption Rate Card' campaign launched by the Congress. The advertisements accused the previous BJP government in the state of large-scale corruption, including the allegation of a '40 per cent Commission Sarkara'.

During the hearing on Saturday, June 1, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar , who were also named as accused in the case, appeared before the court and were granted bail. However, Rahul Gandhi , who was supposed to appear, did not turn up.

Rahul Gandhi 's counsel requested an exemption from his appearance, citing his participation in an INDIA alliance meeting in New Delhi and his candidacy in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The court granted the exemption but directed Rahul Gandhi to be present on June 7 'without fail'.

The BJP's advocates objected to the exemption, arguing that Rahul Gandhi had already skipped an earlier appearance and should not be granted further leniency. However, the court reserved its order on whether to issue a non-bailable warrant against the Congress leader.

In the run-up to the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections, the Congress party had launched a high-profile campaign accusing the previous BJP government of widespread corruption. The 'Corruption Rate Card' advertisements, which included the '40 per cent Commission Sarkara' allegation, were widely circulated in the state.

The BJP has now taken legal action, alleging that these advertisements were 'false, baseless, and reckless' and have defamed the party. The case has become a political flashpoint, with both sides accusing each other of engaging in a 'defamatory campaign'.

The outcome of this legal battle is likely to have significant implications for the ongoing political dynamics in Karnataka, as well as the broader national landscape. As the court prepares to hear the case again on June 7, the spotlight remains firmly on Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party's response to the BJP's defamation charges.