The complaint had been filed by a BJP functionary who alleged that the campaign falsely accused BJP leaders, including former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, of taking commissions from public works contracts. A single-judge bench of Justice Sunil Dutt Yadav accepted Gandhi’s petition challenging the summons issued by a magistrate court in February 2024.
The lower court had earlier directed Gandhi, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar to appear in connection with the complaint. Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar secured bail in June 2024, followed by Gandhi days later, while he simultaneously sought relief from the High Court.
The dispute traces back to the election campaign run by the Indian National Congress, which displayed “PayCM” posters bearing Bommai’s image and a QR code linking to a website alleging a “40% government.” Congress leaders claimed the slogan reflected widespread allegations of corruption during the previous BJP administration. BJP representatives countered that the campaign was defamatory and intended to mislead voters.
In its order, the High Court held that the material placed on record did not justify continuation of criminal prosecution against Gandhi, effectively ending proceedings against him in the case. Legal experts say the ruling reinforces judicial scrutiny of defamation complaints arising from political speech during election campaigns.
The controversy unfolded amid a fiercely contested 2023 assembly election in which Congress won 135 of 224 seats, its strongest performance in the state in more than three decades, while the BJP’s tally fell to 66. The verdict is unlikely to affect the ongoing investigation ordered earlier into allegations linked to the “40% commission” claims, which authorities were directed to examine separately.
Political observers note that the judgment may influence how parties frame campaign messaging, particularly when allegations of corruption are raised in public advertisements or online posts. For now, Gandhi has secured relief from criminal proceedings, while the broader political dispute over the claims remains part of Karnataka’s continuing partisan debate.
