The Karnataka High Court has quashed a criminal defamation case filed by former Congress MLA Sowmya Reddy against Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje.
The Single Bench allowed the petition and set aside the proceedings pending before the lower court.
The defamation complaint was filed by Sowmya Reddy, former MLA from Jayanagar, alleging that Karandlaje had made defamatory statements against her during the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and in public forums thereafter.
Reddy had contended that the remarks damaged her reputation and were made with the intent to malign her image. The case was registered in a Bengaluru magistrate’s court.
Karandlaje, who is the Union Minister of State for MSME and Labour & Employment and BJP MP from Bangalore North, moved the High Court seeking quashing of the proceedings. While quashing the case, the High Court observed that the ingredients required to constitute an offence of defamation under Section 499/500 of the IPC were not made out prima facie.
The court noted that political statements made in the course of public debate, without specific allegations of imputations that harm reputation, do not automatically attract criminal liability. It further held that continuation of the proceedings would amount to an abuse of process of law.
Following the order, BJP leaders welcomed the verdict, calling it a vindication of Karandlaje’s right to free speech in political discourse.
Congress leaders, however, said they would study the detailed order before deciding on further legal options.
