IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 10^TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2025

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRADEEP SINGH YERUR

WRIT PETITION NO.36711 OF 2025 (GM-CPC)

BETWEEN:

1. DR.M.C.SUDHAKAR

S/O.SRI CHOWDA REDDY

AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS

R/AT NO.1805, MALAPALLY

CHINTAMANI

CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT-563 125

2. SMT.SAPNA SUDHAKAR

W/O.DR.M.C.SUDHAKAR AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS

R/AT NO.1805, MALAPALLY

CHINTAMANI

CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT-563 125

3. SMT.SHANTHAMMA CHOWDA REDDY

W/O.CHOWDA REDDY

AGED ABOUT 79 YEARS

Digitally signed

by R/AT NO.1805, MALAPALLY

GAVRIBIDANUR

SUBRAMANYA CHINTAMANI

GUPTA CHIKKABALLAPURA

SREENATH

DISTRICT-563 125

Location: HIGH

COURT OF

KARNATAKA

4. SRI CHOWDA REDDY

S/O.M.C.ANJANEYA REDDY

AGED ABOUT 89 YEARS

R/AT NO.1805, MALAPALLY

CHINTAMANI

CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT-563 125

5. SRI BALAJI M.C. S/O.CHOWDA REDDY AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS R/AT NO.1805, MALAPALLY CHINTAMANI CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT-563 125 …PETITIONERS (BY SRI V.B.SHIVAKUMAR, ADVOCATE)

AND:

1. SRI VEERENDRA BABU N.

PRESIDENT/GENERAL SECRETARY KERE MATTU RAJAKALUVE ATHIKRAMANA OTTUVARI TERAVU KARYACHARANA HORATA SAMITI (KARNATAKA RAKSHANA PADE'S UNIT)

NO.1652/6, 20^TH CROSS, 8^TH MAIN CQAL LAYOUT, 'C' BLOCK SAHAKARA NAGAR BENGALURU-560 092

2. SRI PARAMESH V.

PRESIDENT/GENERAL SECRETARY KERE MATTU RAJAKALUVE ATHIKRAMANA OTTUVARI TERAVU KARYACHARANA HORATA SAMITI (KARNATAKA RAKSHANA PADE'S UNIT)

NO.1652/6, 20^TH CROSS, 8^TH MAIN CQAL LAYOUT, 'C' BLOCK SAHAKARA NAGAR BENGALURU-560 092

3. V NEWS24 KANNADA CHANNEL VAKILSAB CORNER AT V NEWS24 KANNADA CHANNEL NO.1652/6, 20^TH CROSS, 8^TH MAIN CQAL LAYOUT, 'C' BLOCK SAHAKARA NAGAR BENGALURU-560 092 REP. BY ITS EDITOR

4. SRI M.S.SAMANVAY S/O.M.C.SUDHAKAR AGED ABOUT 25 YEARS R/AT NO.1805, MALAPALLY CHINTAMANI CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT-563 125

5. KUMARI. AKSHOBHYA REDDY D/O.DRI.M.C.BALAJI AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS R/AT NO.1805, MALAPALLY CHINTAMANI CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT-563 125 … RESPONDENTS THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING RESTRAIN RESPONDENT NOS.1 AND 2 AND THE EDITOR OF RESPONDENT NO.3 FROM CARRYING OUT DEFAMATORY PUBLICATIONS DEFAMATORY STATEMENTS AGAINST THE PETITIONERS AND ETC.

THIS PETITION COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRADEEP SINGH YERUR

ORAL ORDER

Heard learned counsel for petitioner.

2. The petitioners are none other than the plaintiffs before the trial Court. The present petition is filed seeking the following reliefs:

"a. For a restraint order restraining the Respondents No.1 and 2 and the Editor of the 3^rd Respondent from carrying out defamatory publications defamatory statements against the Petitioners.

b. For a restraint order restraining the respondents by issuing pamphlets, speech, publications slanderous remarks and carrying out such statements or such of the malicious statements defamatory which are defamatory and slanderous utterances but also in 3^rd defendant/respondent which is a News Channel, V News 24 Kannada at Vakilsab Corner at V News24 Kannada channel.

c. For cost of the petition."

3. The plaintiffs filed a suit against the defendants before the trial Court seeking the following reliefs:

I. pass a decree declaring that the action of the defendants, complained of herein is defamatory, insinuatory, libelous and slanderous, the same having harmed the personal image, reputation and public profile of the plaintiffs; besides the same having caused them a severe mental trauma and financial loss;

II. Consequently order directing the defendants for monitory compensation/compensatory damages for injury to the reputation and for emotional distress hurting the feelings and humiliation suffered to be compensated in a sum of Rs.20,00,000/- (Rupees Twenty lakhs) with interest at 18% per annum till repayment of the amount.

III. For quantifying financial losses resulting from the defamation in reference to the property for which defamatory malicious statements made by carrying out libelous publications slanderous utterances as against the plaintiffs.

IV. For