Karnataka: Bangalore Court summons Rahul Gandhi, Siddaramaiah, and DK Shivakumar in defamation case

Rahul Gandhi, the prominent face of the Congress party and current Member of Parliament from Wayanad, has been issued summons by the 42nd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court in Bangalore. The summons requires Rahul Gandhi, along with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, to appear personally before the court on March 28, 2024, in connection with a defamation case filed against them by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Special Judge J Preeth issued the summons and directed the registration of a criminal case against Rahul Gandhi, Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar, and the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee. The judge’s order reflects the seriousness of the defamation allegations raised by the BJP against the mentioned political figures.

In a legal tussle with political undertones, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused Congress leaders of defamation, alleging false advertisements targeting its party members, including former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. The BJP moved the court with a defamation suit against the Congress leaders, asserting that the sinister campaign had tarnished the party’s image and reputation.

During the state assembly polls, the Congress party circulated advertisements in newspapers accusing the then-ruling BJP of corruption, with slogans such as “BJP of 40 percentage.” Additionally, the Congress issued posters targeting Basavaraj Bommai, displaying “Pay CM” posters across the city, and published a corruption rate card against the former government.

Advocate Vinod Kumar, representing the BJP, appeared on behalf of the party in court. The 42nd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court ordered the Congress leaders to appear before it on March 28 in connection with the defamation case, indicating the seriousness of the allegations made by the BJP.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Court has intervened, directing the state government to expedite the investigation into the allegations within six weeks. This directive comes three months after the Congress government, upon assuming power, ordered a judicial probe into the corruption accusations. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi criticised the Karnataka government, alleging that the Congress regime engages in corrupt practices.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s legal woes continue to mount, with multiple defamation cases against him across different jurisdictions. The Jharkhand High Court recently rejected Mr. Gandhi’s petition seeking to quash proceedings against him in a trial court for allegedly defamatory remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Additionally, Gandhi has been summoned to appear in Sultanpur’s civil court in connection with a defamation case filed by a BJP leader.

Rahul Gandhi’s Lok Sabha membership, which was revoked following a court verdict over his “Modis are thieves” remark, has been officially restored. The Lok Sabha secretariat issued a notification on Monday, ending the 137-day disqualification that took effect on March 24.

During his ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Rahul Gandhi sparked controversy by repeatedly mentioning Aishwarya Rai’s name at different rallies. He made comments like, “Television channels only show Aishwarya Rai dancing. They don’t show anything about the poor people. They show Narendra Modi, Amitabh Bachchan 24 hours.” The remarks have drawn attention and criticism.

This is not the first time Rahul Gandhi has faced legal challenges over his statements. In 2020, he submitted an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court for attributing the political slogan “Chowkidar Chor Hai” to the top court. Despite his apology, the Congress leader has been involved in several defamation cases. In the same year, he refused to apologise for his ‘Modi surname’ jibe, leading to criticism from former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who called it “irresponsible arrogance.”

In April of the same year, a Patna court directed Rahul Gandhi to appear before it on April 25 in a defamation suit filed by BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP, Sushil Kumar Modi. The defamation case in the MP/MLA court was related to Rahul Gandhi’s purported remark on the Modi surname. The Congress leader faces over 12 defamation cases as of last year June.

Rahul Gandhi’s restoration to Lok Sabha membership marks a pivotal moment in his political journey. However, his recent controversial remarks and the legal battles he continues to face highlight the delicate interplay between political rhetoric and legal consequences. As the Congress leader navigates these challenges, his words and actions remain under scrutiny.