Court restrains media, social media platforms from publishing videos against Siddaramaiah
Mangalore Today News Network
Bengaluru, Oct 14, 2026: A city civil and sessions court on Tuesday issued an interim ex parte injunction restraining media organisations and social media platforms from telecasting, publishing or circulating two videos concerning former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah.
The first video, allegedly recorded using a hidden camera, was uploaded to the YouTube channel ‘Karnataka Honey Trap’ on September 27. The second video, featuring a discussion about the first, was uploaded to ‘Freedom TV Kannada’ on October 2.
Siddaramaiah has filed a suit seeking a permanent injunction against the circulation of the videos and submitted two interlocutory applications seeking interim relief.
The court also directed the social media platforms and digital intermediaries named in the suit to immediately disable access to and block the two video URLs. They have been restrained from hosting, displaying or facilitating further dissemination of the material until the next hearing.
In its order, the court observed that Siddaramaiah had disputed the authenticity, credibility, intent and propriety of circulating the videos without verification.
The court noted that further circulation of the allegedly objectionable material through social media, print media, digital platforms and television could cause substantial damage to his dignity, public standing, reputation and privacy, which could not be adequately compensated through monetary damages.
It held that Siddaramaiah had established a prima facie case for the grant of an interim ex parte injunction.
In his suit, Siddaramaiah contended that the allegations contained in the videos directly affected his personal dignity, reputation and standing in public life.
According to the suit, the first video purportedly shows a hidden-camera interaction involving two men and a woman. During the conversation, the woman is allegedly prompted with a series of questions to make serious allegations concerning an incident said to have occurred around 2011.
The suit further alleged that the significant delay in bringing up the matter, the manner of questioning, the hidden-camera recording, the politically charged caption and the subsequent online publication indicated a calculated and malicious attempt to damage Siddaramaiah’s reputation and political standing.
The court’s interim order will remain in force until the next date of hearing.
According to the suit, the first video had garnered approximately 3.24 lakh views as of October 4, 2026.