Bengaluru: Congress Member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi on Friday granted bail by 42nd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bengaluru city in connection with defamation case over release of derogatory advertisements against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Karnataka unit, in leading newspapers of Karnataka during the 2023 Assembly elections. The advertisements from the Congress party was released in newspapers of Karnataka on May 5, 2023.
Along with Rahul Gandhi, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar wera also co-accused in a private complaint filed by general secretary of BJP S. Keshav Prasad on May 8, 2023.
Earlier, Rahul Gandhi failed to appear before the 42nd ACMM, Bengaluru and the Court asked Rahul Gandhi to appear in person. The Court, a couple of days back, granted bail to the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar in the same case.
The BJP leader alleged that Congress party then in opposition, released advertisements against the ruling BJP government wherein the Congress party accused BJP government in power from 2019 to 2023 indulged in corruption. Besides, the post of Chief Minister was fixed at Rs 2,500 crore by BJP leadership and that of Minister’s post for Rs 500 crore.
Prasad alleged that Congress party alleged 40 percent commission charge against the BJP in awarding contractor works in Public Works Department (PWD) among others and stated that release of advertisements at the time of assembly election was derogatory. He stated that the release of advertisements by the Congress party amounted to defamation under sections 499 and 500 of Indian Penal Code (IPC).
