A Bengaluru court has rejected a defamation complaint against Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah for his Assembly remarks that “most of those committing crimes are from RSS and Bajrang Dal.” The court ruled the statements are protected under constitutional privilege and no personal reputation was harmed.
Bengaluru: A Bengaluru court has dismissed a defamation case filed against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over his statement in the State Legislative Assembly that
“most of those committing crimes are from RSS and Bajrang Dal.”
The court held that such remarks made inside the Assembly are protected under the Constitution and cannot be treated as defamatory.
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The complaint was filed by a Bengaluru-based advocate, who claimed to be a volunteer of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He alleged that Siddaramaiah’s remarks, made on March 17, 2025, during a debate on law and order, were defamatory in nature.
According to him, when Siddaramaiah said that “most of those committing crimes are from RSS and Bajrang Dal,” the statement portrayed the RSS as a criminal organisation.
The complainant also said that once these remarks were published in news reports and circulated on social media, his sentiments were hurt and his personal reputation was affected as a member of RSS.
However, Chief Judicial Magistrate KM Shivakumar dismissed the case. While rejecting the complaint, the court noted that Siddaramaiah’s remarks were connected to the governance issues being discussed in the Assembly.
The judge observed that such speeches were protected by constitutional privilege. The order stated:
“As such to test as to whether the alleged remarks would directly or indirectly harm the reputation of the complainant, it is necessary to show that the complainant has been identified with such organization or association in the society and he is identified as a man of said organization in the society or his friends or relatives as on or subsequent to publication of such remarks. If not, how could it be tested that alleged remarks would harm or caused any such harm to the reputation of complainant.”
Siddaramaiah’s legal team also argued that his statement was made on the floor of the Assembly and therefore fell within the absolute immunity guaranteed to legislators under Article 194(2) of the Constitution.
They further questioned the complainant’s right to file the case, pointing out that he had not proved his membership of the RSS and was not an authorised representative of the organisation. They submitted that under the law, only an “aggrieved person” can initiate defamation proceedings.
The judge agreed with this reasoning, noting that the complainant had failed to establish his position as an RSS member or show any direct injury to his personal reputation.
The court explained:
“More over on careful reading of the allegations made in the complaint, it appears very clear that no where either in the complaint or in his statement under Sec.223 of BNSS, 2023, he states that alleged remarks made by the accused have lowered or harmed or damaged his reputation in the society or among his family or relatives & friends. Rather, he states that alleged statement is derogatory, libelous, maligning & assassinating the dignity of said RSS organization and is hurting his religious & emotional sentiments.”
The court held that since the complainant’s grievance was about the organisation’s image rather than his personal reputation, the case could not stand as defamation under law. It concluded that there was no prima facie case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
Accordingly, the order stated:
“The complaint filed by the complainant Under Sec.223 of BNSS, 2023 for the offences P/U/Sec.299, 352 & 356(2) of BNS, 2023, as against the accused is hereby rejected.”
This ruling means that Siddaramaiah cannot be tried for defamation over these remarks since they were made within the Assembly and are shielded by constitutional protection.
The case highlights how Article 194(2) gives complete legal immunity to legislators for anything spoken inside the House, ensuring that discussions on governance issues remain protected from criminal liability.
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