Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is facing another defamation case and this time, from the state of Karnataka where his party had recorded a thumping victory in the recently-held assembly polls. While the first episode of the defamation case that was filed against him by a BJP leader in Gujarat had led to his disqualification as a Lok Sabha MP after getting convicted in the case, the latest defamation charge filed by BJP claimed that Congress party ran fake allegations against the saffron camp in Karnataka. 

According to reports, Karnataka BJP secretary Keshavaprasad has filed a defamation complaint against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. His co-accused are Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. The complainant alleged that the Congress party had made fake allegations to defame the BJP during the Karnataka assembly polls.

As the then ruling BJP regime-led by Basavaraj Bommai was facing furious allegations of corruption, the Congress party, during the election campaign, alleged that the BJP government took 40 per cent commission and such allegations were vital in BJP's defeat in the polls. However, BJP's Keshavaprasad has claimed in his complaint that the Congress party's '40 per cent corruption' allegations were false and that they defamed the saffron party. 

In his defamation suit against the Congress leaders, the BJP leader said that the Congress party's advertisement that was printed on newspapers on May 5, 2023, claimed then BJP government indulged in 40 per cent corruption and had looted Rs 1.5 lakh crore in the previous four years. The BJP leader further claimed that it was due to such defamatory campaigns from the Congress that the party has lost the election. 

A special court that deals with the cases involving MPs and MLAs has taken cognizance of the private complaint filed by BJP leader Keshavaprasad against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Siddaramaiah, and DK Shivakumar. Special Court judge J Preeth said, "After having heard the arguments of the counsel for the complainant and also on perusal of the averments made in the complaint and the documents produced, I am satisfied that the complainant has made out a prima facie case to take cognizance of the offences under Sections 499 and 500 of the IPC and to proceed further."

The court has summoned the Congress leaders to appear for the hearing when the case will be taken up on July 27. The defamation suit from the BJP leader had named the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee as the first accused followed by the other three accused, who conspired to defame the BJP by circulating false allegations. The complaint further said that the advertisement had displayed rates under the name and styles of appointment and transfer rates for various positions.

While Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar were accused of seeking votes for Congress through pasting their images in the advertisements, the complainant said that Rahul Gandhi had also shared the advertisement on Twitter. The BJP leader further said that all the accused were directly responsible for all the false statements in the advertisements. Responding to the defamation suit by the BJP against the Congress leaders, the Congress said that the BJP has filed a complaint out of frustration. 

Congress leader Saleem Ahmed said, "They (BJP) lost the elections. The people have rejected them. They are now frustrated and they want to file a case because they have nothing to do." Ahmed further said, "The Prime Minister didn't order an inquiry. Mr Bommai didn't act on it. So, we had to do it for the people." 

In Karnataka, the Congress party's campaign against BJP's corruption had gained momentum and the Congress leaders had staunchly attacked the BJP over its '40 per cent corruption', seeking 40 per cent bribes. Strengthening its political course against BJP, the Congress party had launched 'PayCM' campaign against the then ruling BJP government, that made a splash across the state. 

On the other hand, Rahul Gandhi had already been disqualified as a Lok Sabha earlier this year after a Gujarat court convicted him in the criminal defamation case that was filed by Gujarat BJP MLA Purnesh Modi. This case pertained to Rahul Gandhi's speech during the election campaigns of 2019 Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka during which he likened Modi surname to thieves. 

Rahul Gandhi asked how all the thieves - Lalit Modi, Nirav Modi, and Narendra Modi have the common surnames. A case was filed against him by Purnesh Modi, who alleged that Rahul Gandhi had defamed the entire Modi community. Earlier this March, a Surat court in Gujarat found Rahul Gandhi guilty in the criminal defamation case and he was then convicted to two-year prison sentence. However, though he was awarded a bail, he was disqualified as a Lok Sabha MP as per the Representation of the People Act, 1951.