The Karnataka High Court has temporarily halted proceedings against Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case filed by the BJP, related to ads during the 2023 assembly elections alleging corruption. The next hearing is set for February 20, 2025, amid ongoing tensions between the Congress and BJP regarding political messaging and electoral strategies.
Karnataka: The Karnataka High Court has stayed trial court proceedings against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case filed by the BJP. The case stems from political advertisements issued during the 2023 Karnataka assembly elections, alleging corruption under the BJP’s governance in the state.
The defamation complaint was lodged by BJP leader Keshav Prasad, targeting Gandhi, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. The complaint arose from “Corruption Rate Card” advertisements issued by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC). These ads claimed that the BJP, when in power, charged commissions for appointments and transfers in government departments.
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The BJP has dismissed these allegations as “false” and based on the “fanciful imagination” of the Congress party. The complaint also cited Gandhi’s use of the term “trouble engine Sarkar” as a deliberate attempt to malign the widely promoted “double engine Sarkar” slogan, referring to BJP-led governments at both state and central levels.
Justice M Nagaprasanna issued an emergent notice to the BJP and granted an interim stay on further proceedings in the case. The court scheduled the next hearing for February 20, 2025.
The order stated:
“Emergent notice to the respondent returnable by February 20. By way of interim order, there shall be a stay of further proceedings.”
Senior advocate Shashi Kiran Shetty, representing Gandhi, argued that the defamation case was being heard for the first time and that the allegations were misconstrued.
Legal Developments So Far
- Bail Granted to Congress Leaders: Rahul Gandhi, Siddaramaiah, and DK Shivakumar were granted bail in 2024 by a magistrate court. Gandhi appeared before the 42nd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate on June 1, 2024, in compliance with the court’s order.
- Congress’ Election Campaign: The Congress ads accused the BJP government of running a “40 percent commission government”, a charge BJP claims was aimed at tarnishing its image and reducing its electoral chances.
The BJP argued that the advertisements and slogans were defamatory and lacked factual basis. The party contends that such campaigns were designed to deliberately harm its reputation and influence voters.
The case underscores the heated political rivalry between the Congress and BJP during the 2023 Karnataka elections. The “Corruption Rate Card” and “trouble engine Sarkar” slogans were central to Congress’ campaign strategy, which aimed to highlight alleged governance failures under the BJP.
The High Court’s stay provides temporary relief for Gandhi and delays the BJP’s pursuit of legal recourse. However, the matter remains unresolved and could have broader implications for the freedom of political speech and electoral strategies in India.
The High Court will hear the case again on February 20, 2025. Until then, the trial court proceedings will remain paused. The outcome will be closely watched, as it involves allegations of corruption, political messaging, and defamation involving two of India’s largest political parties.
Case title: Rahul Gandhi v/s Bharatiya Janata Party
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