On Friday, Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi’s bail was granted by the Bengaluru court, after being sued by BJP’s Karnataka division on behalf of defamation charge. The claim arose due to ‘defamatory’ adverts that congress party had aired in 2023 during the Assembly elections.
Details of the Case
The conflict began when Congress ran ads in which accused the BJP state-government in Karnataka of significant corruption between 2019 and 2023. They used posters which had “corruption rate card” that implicated some BJP leaders in high levels of embezzlement especially the then chief minister Basavaraj Bommai taking 40% charge on public works contracts. In response, the BJP filed a defamation lawsuit against many Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.
Legal Developments
On June 1, the court granted bail to Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar after their appearance regarding the defamation case. Rahul Gandhi was absent on that day, leading the BJP to request a non-bailable warrant against him. The Congress argued that Gandhi was not directly involved in the advertisement’s publication and sought an exemption, citing his commitments during the election campaign.
Vinod, the BJP’s advocate, stated, “During the 2023 assembly election, the Congress had published an advertisement claiming that the BJP is a trouble-maker government. This is a false allegation. We approached the court. Two of them have secured bail. Rahul Gandhi sought exemption, citing the last phase of the election. Today he promised to appear before the court.”
Court Appearance and Bail
Rahul Gandhi appeared before the Bengaluru court on June 7, as directed. The court granted him bail, allowing him to leave after completing the necessary legal formalities. This decision was welcomed by Congress supporters and leaders, who maintain that the advertisements were factual and aimed at exposing corruption in the BJP-led administration.
Political Reactions
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The slander lawsuit highlights the intense political competition between the Congress and the BJP in Karnataka, especially during election season. Allegations of corruption have dominated political discourse, influencing voter views and campaign plans.
The BJP’s Karnataka branch, led by General Secretary Keshava Prasad, said that the charges in the advertising were false and designed to harm the party’s reputation. The court hearings have received extensive media coverage, reflecting the case’s high stakes.
Conclusion
Rahul Gandhi reached critical stages in an ongoing legal battle between the Congress and the BJP in Karnataka by appearing in court and receiving a bail. The continuing lawsuit will most certainly have an impact on the state’s political environment in the future. Both parties’ perspectives remain similar, i.e., Congress charges corruption, while the BJP accuses it of making unfounded and damaging accusations in the pursuit of justice.
