(Left) Congress leader Mohammed Nalapad (Right) Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge
Bengaluru: A Bengaluru court has ordered Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge and Congress leader Mohammed Nalapad to appear in person before it on August 1 in connection with a private criminal complaint alleging defamatory remarks against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The 42nd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Court issued fresh summons after the earlier summons reportedly could not be served by the police.
In a significant development, the court has specifically directed both accused to remain physically present before the magistrate on the next date of hearing. The order makes their personal appearance mandatory as the court proceeds with the private complaint.
The case arises out of a complaint filed by A. Tejas Gowda, a resident of Siddapura in Bengaluru, who alleged that Priyank Kharge and Mohammed Nalapad made statements and social media posts that defamed the RSS and damaged its public reputation.
Judge Sandeep Patil of the 42nd ACMM Court issued the fresh summons after noting that the earlier summons had not been successfully executed. Instead of relying on further attempts to serve notices, the court has now fixed August 1 for the personal appearance of both accused.
According to court records, Priyank Kharge has been named as Accused No.1, while Mohammed Nalapad has been arraigned as Accused No.3 in the complaint.
The complaint alleges that on October 14, 2025, Priyank Kharge published a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) containing remarks against the RSS. The complainant has contended that the contents of the post were defamatory and lowered the reputation of the organisation and its members.
Mohammed Nalapad has also been accused of making objectionable statements against the RSS during an interview on a YouTube channel. The complainant has alleged that those remarks similarly harmed the image and goodwill of the organisation.
Based on these allegations, Tejas Gowda approached the magistrate court by filing a private complaint seeking criminal action against the two Congress leaders.
The magistrate had earlier taken cognisance of the complaint and issued summons. However, since the earlier summons reportedly remained unserved, the court has now reissued summons and directed both accused to be present before the court on the scheduled date.
Legal observers note that an order directing personal appearance indicates that the court intends to proceed with the matter in accordance with criminal procedure and requires the presence of the accused during the hearing unless exempted through an appropriate legal process.
The case has attracted political attention as Priyank Kharge has recently been at the centre of political debate over his remarks regarding the RSS, including his demand that the organisation be brought under a regulatory framework through registration. Those political statements, however, are separate from the allegations being examined in the present private complaint.
The proceedings before the Bengaluru court are confined to examining whether the alleged social media post and public statements constitute offences under the complaint filed by the complainant.
With the fresh summons now issued, both Priyank Kharge and Mohammed Nalapad have been directed to appear before the 42nd ACMM Court on August 1. The court is expected to take up the matter further after recording their appearance and proceed in accordance with law.
