Bengaluru: The BJP has filed a defamation complaint against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), before the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court here.
The court, which specializes in criminal cases involving elected former and sitting MPs/MLAs, has acknowledged the allegations under Sections 499 (defamation) and 500 (punishment for defamation) of the Indian Penal Code.
The case is scheduled for the recording of sworn statements on July 27. Summons were ordered to be issued to all the respondents on Tuesday.
The defamation complaint was lodged by S Keshavaprasad, the state secretary of the BJP, on May 9. The complaint alleges false claims in advertisements that tarnished the image of the BJP.
The advertisement in question was released by the KPCC in major newspapers on May 5, 2023, during the run-up to the Assembly election. It claimed that the previous BJP government, which was in power for four years, was involved in "40 per cent corruption" and had embezzled Rs 1.5 lakh crore.
The complaint argues that these claims were unfounded, biased, and defamatory.
With inputs from PTI