A Bengaluru Court has summoned Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to appear personally before it on March 28 in connection with a case filed by the BJP.
Special judge J Preeth also mandated the registration of a criminal case against the accused persons, including the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee.
The BJP had accused the Congress leaders for disseminating false advertisements against its party leaders, including the then Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.
During the Karnataka Assembly elections last year, the Congress leveled accusations of “40 percent corruption” against the BJP and circulated numerous advertisements in newspapers alleging corruption within the then ruling party.
Additionally, a poster campaign targeting Bommai was launched, displaying ‘PayCM’ posters with the then CM’s images across the city. The Congress also published a ‘corruption rate card’ against the former government.
Subsequent to the Assembly elections, the BJP filed a defamation case against the Congress leaders, contending that the advertisements tarnished the party’s image. Vinod Kumar, the BJP’s legal representative, argued in court that the “false” advertisements had inflicted damage upon the BJP’s reputation. Following the presentation of arguments, the 42nd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court directed the Congress leaders to appear before it on March 28 in connection with the case.
