Big relief for Rahul Gandhi as High Court dismisses ‘Corruption Rate Card’ defamation case

Bengaluru (The Uttam Hindu): Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has received a major legal relief from the Karnataka High Court. The court has completely dismissed a private complaint filed against him regarding alleged defamatory election content during the assembly elections. This significant order was delivered by a single bench headed by Justice Sunil Dutt Yadav. The case involved a "corruption rate card" advertisement targeting the then BJP government, which Rahul Gandhi had shared on his social media accounts.

What was the 'corruption rate card' and the entire election controversy?

This entire political and legal controversy began during the Karnataka Assembly elections. During that time, the Congress Party launched a highly aggressive advertising campaign against the then-BJP government in the state. This campaign included the release of a "Corruption Rate Card," which leveled serious allegations of commission-taking and corruption against the government. When Rahul Gandhi promoted this content on social media, legal defamation proceedings were initiated against him.

The summons of the lower court was challenged in the High Court

Following the appearance of this advertisement, BJP supporter Keshav Prasad filed a private complaint against Rahul Gandhi. Taking cognizance of this complaint, a lower court issued summons to Rahul Gandhi to appear. The Congress leader subsequently appealed the summons to the Karnataka High Court. During the hearing in the High Court, his lawyers strongly argued that the advertisement was merely part of a political election campaign and did not constitute a strong case of personal defamation.

Justice Sunil Dutt Yadav's bench disposed of the case.

The Karnataka High Court accepted the arguments of Rahul Gandhi's lawyers. After a detailed hearing, the bench headed by Justice Sunil Dutt Yadav dismissed the private complaint filed. This significant High Court decision means that no further trial or legal proceedings will be initiated against Rahul Gandhi in the "corruption rate card" case, providing him with significant political and legal relief amid the election campaign.