On Saturday, a Karnataka court granted bail to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar in a defamation case filed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The defamation suit arose from allegations made by the Congress leaders, who purportedly released false advertisements targeting BJP figures, including then Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. The advertisements allegedly accused the BJP of corruption, claiming a 40 percent commission was charged for all public works. The Congress had also published a “corruption rate card” against the previous government.
Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar appeared before the 42nd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate in person. Following a hearing, the court granted bail to both leaders.
The defamation case was filed by BJP MLC and General Secretary Keshav Prasad against Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The allegations and subsequent legal actions have added to the ongoing political tensions in the state.
