Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will appear before a special court in Bengaluru on Friday in connection with a defamation case filed by the Karnataka BJP, PTI reported. The party filed a case against Gandhi for publishing allegedly defamatory advertisements in leading newspapers.
The commercial released before the previous year’s assembly elections accused the state’s then BJP government of widespread corruption during its 2019-2023 term.
“Congress national leader Rahul Gandhi will attend the city Civil Court tomorrow (Friday) at 10.30 am,” the state Congress said on Thursday.
According to the PTI report, he will hold a discussion with the newly elected state MPs of the Congress as well as the defeated candidates at Bharat Jodo Bhavan on Queens Road at 11.30 am, the party’s state unit said, adding that the party’s state unit will also be present. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC President DK Shivakumar.
On June 1, the court granted bail to Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar after they appeared before it in connection with the case.
Justice KN Shivakumar passed the order and fixed June 7 as the date for Rahul Gandhi’s personal appearance.
During last week’s hearing, Gandhi’s attorney filed a motion requesting a waiver of appearance for his client, which the plaintiff opposed, arguing that repeated waivers should not be allowed.
In its complaint filed in June 2023, the BJP had alleged that false and reckless allegations were made in the advertisements issued by the accused on May 5, 2023 in all major newspapers of Karnataka during the campaign for the election. assembly, under the title “Corruption rate”. card” and making accusations of “40 percent Sarkara Commission (government)”.
The complaint alleged that the advertisements were issued by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (State Congress) through Shivakumar, in his capacity as president, and Siddaramaiah, as the then leader of the opposition in the legislative assembly.
Rahul Gandhi had posted this “defamatory advertisement” on his account on social media platform X, the BJP said.