Bengaluru, 4 July

The Karnataka High Court on Friday granted interim relief to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar by staying the trial court proceedings in a criminal defamation case filed against him by the State BJP unit over "corruption rate card" ads.

The court also extended similar relief to the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), which is a co-accused in the matter.

Justice SR Krishna Kumar, who presided over the matter, issued notice to the respondent and made it returnable on 29 July, effectively pausing the ongoing proceedings until further directions.

The defamation case arose after a series of controversial advertisements titled "Corruption Rate Card" were issued by the Congress party in the run-up to the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections.

The BJP has alleged that these advertisements falsely accused it of institutionalising corruption while in power, claiming that appointments and transfers in government departments came with fixed "rates" and "commissions."

According to the BJP, the advertisements--published in local newspapers and promoted online--damaged the party's public image. The BJP has termed the Congress's claims as entirely fabricated and "born out of fanciful imagination."

Of particular contention is the Congress party's reference to the then BJP-led state government as a "trouble engine Sarkar", a wordplay on the BJP or NDA's self-description as a "double engine Sarkar." The BJP has argued that this was a deliberate attempt to ridicule and tarnish the party's image ahead of crucial polls.

The complaint specifically names DK Shivakumar, in his capacity as KPCC President, and Siddaramaiah, then the Leader of Opposition, as the individuals responsible for commissioning and approving the advertisements.

It also claims that Rahul Gandhi amplified the alleged defamatory content by posting it on his 'X' (formerly Twitter) account.

Earlier this year, in January, the High Court had granted a similar interim stay on the trial proceedings against Rahul Gandhi in connection with the same case.

Senior Advocate K Shashi Kiran Shetty and Advocate Surya Mukundaraj appeared on behalf of Shivakumar. The KPCC was represented by Advocates S A Ahamed and Sanjay B Yadav.

The matter is expected to come up next on 29 July, when the High Court will further examine the validity of the defamation proceedings initiated by the BJP.