Defamation case by BJP: Karnataka High Court stays trial proceedings against DK Shivakumar

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, July 4, 2025: The Karnataka High Court has granted interim relief to Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar after it stayed the trial court proceedings in a criminal defamation case filed against him by the BJP.

The private defamation suit, which also named Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, was filed by Keshav Prasad, MLC and general secretary of the BJP.

The complaint was about advertisements issued by the state Congress in newspapers last year about ’Corruption Rate Cards’ during the erstwhile BJP government in the state, including the allegation of a ’40 per cent commission’. The complainant alleged that these advertisements defamed the BJP.

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

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

The complaint also claimed 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.

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