Rahul Gandhi Granted Bail in Defamation Case by Bengaluru Court

Bengaluru's court granted bail to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case filed by Karnataka's BJP unit. The case stemmed from alleged defamatory advertisements published in mainstream newspapers ahead of the Assembly polls last year. These advertisements accused the previous BJP government in the state of widespread corruption during its tenure from 2019 to 2023.

The advertisements, orchestrated by the Congress, claimed a 40% commission was imposed for all public works, accompanied by a 'corruption rate card' targeting BJP leaders, including then-Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. BJP MLC Keshava Prasad filed the defamation case against Congress leaders, including D K Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah, and Rahul Gandhi, alleging false accusations.

Earlier, on June 1, the court granted bail to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar after their appearance in connection with the same case. Karnataka's BJP unit sought a non-bailable warrant against Rahul Gandhi for his absence on June 1, despite Congress asserting his non-involvement in the advertisement's publication.

However, Judge K N Shivakumar directed Rahul Gandhi to appear in court on June 7, which he did after being granted bail today. Post-bail, Rahul Gandhi was observed exiting the court premises.

The granting of bail to Rahul Gandhi marks a development in the ongoing legal proceedings, indicating the case's progression within the judicial system. It underscores the legal intricacies surrounding political campaigns and the accountability demanded of public figures in such matters.