Karnataka High Court Closes The News Minute's Plea After Trial Court Refuses To Extend 'Gag' Order In Dharmasthala Burial Case

The Karnataka High Court was on Monday (August 11) informed that the trial court had refused to extend its July 18 ex-parte interim 'gag' order restraining various media entities and YouTube channels from publishing any "defamatory content" about Harshendra Kumar D and his kin, in connection with the Dharmasthala Burial case. 

The development happened in a plea filed by Spunklane Media Pvt. Ltd., a company which owns and operates 'The News Minute' web portal, challenging the ex-parte interim 'gag order'.

For context, the trial court had in an interim order restrained various media houses and YouTube channels from publishing any "defamatory content" against respondent-plaintiff Harshendra Kumar D–brother of Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade, his family members, institutions run by the family and Sri Manjunathaswamy temple, Dharmasthala, following which the channel approached the High Court.

Subsequently the Principal City Civil and Session Judge had transferred the case to another judge for further hearing, after the earlier judge had recused himself from hearing the case.

On August 6 the matter was thereafter listed before Judge Anitha M who rejected an interim application filed by plaintiff Harshendra Kumar D seeking extension of the interim order. 

During the hearing today before the high court, counsel for The News Minute informed Justice M Nagaprasanna that a memo had been filed regarding its plea having become infructuous. 

The counsel for the respondent also informed the high court that the trial court had rejected his application for extension of July 18 interim order.

The high court thereafter said, "Counsel for petitioner files a memo depicting that petition is rendered infructuous in the light of the concerned court not extending the interim order. In that light the petition is disposed having become infructuous". 

Meanwhile, the plea challenging the trial court's John Doe order passed in respect of the portal's reporting on the alleged murder of a 17-year-old girl, has been listed next week. 

The company in its petition had said that it carried out multiple publications in respect of the death of a 17-year-old girl from the town of Dharamasthala, and the recent allegations in Dharamasthala.

On 15 May 2025, it received an email from the respondent (Suresh A S) claiming articles published by the portal violated an ad-interim ex parte order dated March 22, 2025 in O.S. No. 2145/2025 passed by City Civil Court.

For context, the March 22, 2025 order was passed against defendants mentioned therein, including Defendant No. 79 i.e. John Doe.

Justice Nagaprasanna had on August 1 quashed the ex-parte gag order passed against YouTube channel 'Kudla Rampage' in connection with the Dharmasthala Burial case. 

Case Title: Spunklane Media Private Limited AND Harshendra Kumar D

Case No: Writ Petition No 23819/2025

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 266

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