Karnataka High Court quashes defamation case against Rahul Gandhi for "40% commission" ads against BJP

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday quashed the criminal proceedings against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the defamation case filed against him by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Justice Sunil Dutt Yadav delivered the verdict on a plea by Gandhi.

"The petition is allowed. Allowing the proceedings to continue would amount to an abuse of the process of law. Proceedings so far as the petitioner (Rahul Gandhi) is concerned is set aside," the Court directed.

The defamation case was filed by BJP leader Keshav Prasad against Gandhi, Karnataka Chief Minister (CM) Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar citing the advertisements and campaigning slogans of Congress party during the lead up to the 2023 Karnataka assembly elections.

In the ads, the Congress party had alleged that the BJP, which was then in power in the State, was charging up to 40 percent commission/ bribes from contractors and others for execution of public works.

The BJP in its complaint accused Congress leaders of spreading false advertisements targeting its party members including the then Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.

Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar were granted bail by a Magistrate court on June 1, 2024.

Gandhi was granted bail by the Magistrate on June 7, 2024.

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