Rahul Gandhi Rahul Gandhi, Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar summoned in new defamation case
Bengaluru/IBNS: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, disqualified from the Parliament following his conviction in a defamation case, has been summoned in another defamation case filed against him in Karnataka.
His co-accused in the case are Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar, who have been summoned by the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate.
The case will be heard on July 27.
The complaint, filed by BJP state secretary Keshavaprasad on May 9, revolved around the "40 percent corruption" allegations that were made ahead of the recently concluded assembly elections.
It claims that a Congress advertisement printed in newspapers on May 5, 2023, claimed the BJP government indulged in 40 percent corruption and had looted Rs. 1.5 lakh crore in the previous four years.
Terming the allegations "baseless" and "defamatory," the BJP alleged that it was due to such campaigns, it lost last month's state election in Karnataka.
The Congress heavily banked on the "40 percent corruption" issue following allegations that officials in various ministries were seeking 40 percent bribes.
The grand old party even came up with the "PayCM" campaign, which helped the "40 percent" bribery accusations gain traction.
The BJP was seen as inactive against its leaders and ministers accused of corruption. Despite the corruption allegations, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai remained as the party's Chief Ministerial candidate.
The election turned in the favour of the Congress with the party sweeping the poll and coming to power in Karnataka.
In March, Gandhi was disqualified from the Lok Sabha after his conviction by a Gujarat court over his remark on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Targetting PM Modi over his surname, which is the same as fugitive businessmen Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi, Rahul Gandhi had said, "How come all thieves have the common surname Modi?"
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