In the backdrop of last year’s Karnataka Assembly elections, the Congress accused the BJP of involvement in “40 percent corruption” and extensively propagated these allegations through multiple newspaper advertisements. On Friday, a city court issued summons for the former Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, directing them to personally appear on March 28. This legal summons is in response to a case filed by the BJP.
Special Judge J Preeth directed the commencement of a criminal case against the accused, including the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee. The BJP contended that the Congress leaders, including the then Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, circulated deceptive advertisements targeting their party leaders. These allegations originated during the Karnataka Assembly elections, where the Congress asserted “40 percent corruption” by the BJP and published various newspaper ads accusing the then ruling party of corruption. A poster campaign, featuring ‘PayCM’ posters adorned with Bommai’s images, was also initiated, accompanied by the release of a ‘corruption rate card’ against the previous government. Following the Assembly elections, the BJP filed a defamation case against the Congress leaders, alleging that the advertisements had adversely impacted the party’s reputation.
Vinod Kumar, the BJP’s legal representative in court, argued that the “false” advertisements had caused damage to the BJP’s image. After careful consideration of the arguments, the 42nd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court mandated the personal appearance of the Congress leaders on March 28 in connection with the case.