Karnataka High Court Stays Criminal Defamation Case Against Republic Kannada, Its News Anchors And Editor

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday stayed the proceedings in a criminal defamation complaint filed by Sangappa, an IAS officer and former Managing Director of Karnataka Electronics Development Corporation Ltd (KEONICS), against Republic TV Kannada, its editor and anchors.

Justice Mohammad Nawaz passed the interim order on a petition filed by the company, its Editor Niranjan Narayan Swamy, News readers Smitha Ranganath, Jayaprakash Shetty, and Vijay.

The complainant alleged that the petitioners, along with other accused persons, had conspired to cause harm to his reputation and social standing by creating a telltale through a news interview/panel discussion program.

The petitioners had approached the court seeking to quash the complaint filed under Section 499 of the Indian Penal Code.

It was submitted that the first and second accused, who are the empanelled vendors association of KEONICS, had some grouse with the MD (complainant) and had alleged that some bills were not cleared.  These persons had had expressed their opinion about the complainant in the interview and the channel was not responsible for the same.

It was further contended that though the complaint referred to a meeting of minds, the Magistrate, while taking cognisance, had concluded that Section 34 of IPC was not attracted. Thus, it was contended that the court could not have taken cognisance of the petitioners, who were merely news anchors and news readers.

It was further contended that before issuing a summons to the accused, the Magistrate should have satisfied that the essential ingredients of criminal defamation are made out. The petitioners argued that in the present case, except the complaint, there was nothing to show that his reputation was lowered in the eyes of the public.  

Taking note of the petitioner's contentions, the court was inclined to stay the proceedings till the next date of hearing. 

"The matter requires consideration there shall be a stay on the proceedings in cc.no.24340/2025 pending before the 48th A.C.M.M Bengaluru in respect of the petitioners, until the next date of hearing,” the court recorded in its order.

Case Title: M/s Republic Tv & Others AND SANGAPPA

Case No: Criminal Petition No 14929/2025