Bangalore, January 17
The Karnataka High Court today issued an interim order staying the hearing in the trial court against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case filed by the BJP’s state unit.
Senior advocate Shashi Kiran Shetty, appearing for Rahul, informed the bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna that this is the first time that the case is being heard. After reviewing the petition, the High Court ordered, “An emergency notice be issued to the respondent, which will be returned by February 20. Further proceedings will be stayed by the interim order.” The High Court fixed February 20 for the next hearing in the matter.
The defamation case is linked to the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee’s ‘corruption rate card’ advertisement, which alleged that BJP leaders demanded commissions for government appointments and transfers.
The advertisement given ahead of the assembly elections accused the then BJP government in the state of indulging in large-scale corruption during its 2019-2023 regime. The BJP dismissed the Congress claims as delusional and baseless. -News-Patiala
