A Bengaluru Court on Thursday re-issued summons to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar in a defamation complaint filed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). [BJP vs KPCC and Ors.].The Court had also issued summons to Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi on February 23.However, the Court condoned Gandhi's absence today after he moved an application for the same citing the upcoming Lok Sabha election.Gandhi was granted time till June 1 to appear while summons were re-issued to DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah to appear before the Court on April 29.Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Preeth J passed the order. .The order was passed on a private defamation complaint filed by the BJP through its State Secretary S Keshavaprasad in connection with the 'Corruption Rate Card' advertisement released by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) before the 2023 assembly elections in the State. .The advertisement mentioned 'rates' allegedly for the appointment and transfer of various of State employees under the earlier BJP government. It further alleged corruption in various government departments under the party and specified the 'commissions' charged by them. The advertisement also claimed that the '40% Sarkar' or the 'trouble engine Sarkar' had plundered over ₹1,50,000 crores from the people of Karnataka in the last four years..According to the complaint, the claims were baseless and irrational. It was contended that these false allegations were deliberately made to defame the BJP.On June 15, 2023, the Court observed that the BJP had made out a prima facie case. Accordingly, it took cognisance of the offences under Sections 499 (defamation) and 500 (punishment for defamation) of the IPC and issued summons to the leaders asking them to appear on July 27.
A Bengaluru Court on Thursday re-issued summons to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar in a defamation complaint filed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). [BJP vs KPCC and Ors.].The Court had also issued summons to Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi on February 23.However, the Court condoned Gandhi's absence today after he moved an application for the same citing the upcoming Lok Sabha election.Gandhi was granted time till June 1 to appear while summons were re-issued to DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah to appear before the Court on April 29.Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Preeth J passed the order. .The order was passed on a private defamation complaint filed by the BJP through its State Secretary S Keshavaprasad in connection with the 'Corruption Rate Card' advertisement released by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) before the 2023 assembly elections in the State. .The advertisement mentioned 'rates' allegedly for the appointment and transfer of various of State employees under the earlier BJP government. It further alleged corruption in various government departments under the party and specified the 'commissions' charged by them. The advertisement also claimed that the '40% Sarkar' or the 'trouble engine Sarkar' had plundered over ₹1,50,000 crores from the people of Karnataka in the last four years..According to the complaint, the claims were baseless and irrational. It was contended that these false allegations were deliberately made to defame the BJP.On June 15, 2023, the Court observed that the BJP had made out a prima facie case. Accordingly, it took cognisance of the offences under Sections 499 (defamation) and 500 (punishment for defamation) of the IPC and issued summons to the leaders asking them to appear on July 27.