The Karnataka High Court on Friday quashed the criminal case registered against former BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya and Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami on allegations that they spread misinformation that the Indian National Congress (INC) has an office in Turkey's Istanbul.
Justice M Nagaprasanna allowed the petitions filed by Malviya and Goswami challenging the criminal proceedings initiated against them.
Another Bench comprising Justice S Rachiah had earlier stayed the criminal proceedings initiated against Malviya and Goswami in connection with the controversy, by an order passed in May last year.
The complaint against Goswami and Malviya was filed by a Congress worker Shrikanth Swaroop BN, who accused them of masterminding a campaign to disseminate false information that the Istanbul Congress Centre in Türkiye is an INC office.
On May 17, 2025, Malviya shared a video and questioned whether the Congress party had a registered office in Turkey.
He wrote “Did you know that the Congress Party has a registered office in Turkey? Can Rahul Gandhi explain what necessitated this move? This is bizarre and inexplicable on multiple levels. India deserves to know. Remember: the enemy’s friend is an enemy too.”
The claim became controversial after it emerged that the building shown in the image was the Istanbul Congress Center and was not an office of the Indian National Congress. The Congress party's overseas unit also denied having a physical office in Turkey.
Content regarding the same was also broadcast by Republic TV on its digital platform.
The complainant alleged that this was part of a campaign intended to mislead the public, damage the Congress party's reputation and exploit nationalist sentiment.
The FIR filed on this complaint cited Sections 192 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause a riot) and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS).
Both Malviya and Goswami filed petitions before the High Court to quash the FIR against them.
Goswami told the Court that the inclusion of the office building in a digital version of a Republic TV programme for about four seconds was a technical error, and not part of the original live broadcast. The programme was aired on May 15, 2025, and the image was subsequently added to its online version by junior members of the digital desk, Goswami's plea said.
The petition further stated that the channel removed the image and issued a corrigendum on May 20, 2025, acknowledging the error and expressing regret.
Goswami argued that the FIR over this incident had been registered without proper examination of the material and characterised the criminal proceedings as politically motivated.
Malviya also challenged the FIR on similar grounds, arguing that the action against him was politically motivated.
The Court today allowed both their petitions and quashed the FIR.
Senior Advocate M Aruna Shyam and advocate Suyog Herele E appeared for Malviya.
State Public Prosecutor BN Jagadesh appeared for state.
Detailed order is awaited.