Karnataka High Court Stays Trial Against Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi In Defamation Case Lodged By State BJP

The Karnataka High Court in an interim order on Friday (January 17) stayed trial court proceedings against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case filed against him by State BJP.

Senior advocate Shashi Kiran Shetty appeared for Gandhi and argued before Justice M Nagaprasanna that this was the first time the case is heard.

Issuing notice on the plea the court thereafter dictated in its order, "Emergent notice to the respondent returnable by February 20. By way of interim order there shall be a stay of further proceedings". The court was hearing Gandhi's plea seeking to quash the defamation case lodged against him. 

The matter is next listed on February 20. 

The complaint is primarily against “Corruption Rate card” advertisements issued by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, which claims certain 'rates' and 'commissions' are charged by BJP for appointment and transfer to various positions in government departments. BJP claims it to be false and based on the "fanciful imagination" of the accused.

The party claimed that the use of word “trouble engine Sarkar” by the accused in the place of the widely popular usage “double engine Sarkar” showed an intention to malign the name and reputation of BJP and to affect its chances in the elections.

Notably the Congress leader was granted bail by magistrate's court in the June last year. 

Gandhi had appeared before the 42nd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate as directed by the court in its order of June 1, 2024. The court had earlier granted bail to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar in the case.

Case title: Rahul Gandhi v/s Bharatiya Janata Party

Case No: CRL.P 14473/2024