Click the Play button to listen to article

Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge has approached the Karnataka High Court seeking quashing of criminal defamation proceedings initiated against him over alleged remarks concerning the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

The petition challenges the order dated June 27, 2026, passed by the Bengaluru Special Court for cases against sitting and former MPs and MLAs, whereby the court took cognizance of an offence under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against Kharge and Congress MLA Mohammed Haris Nalapad.

Kharge has sought quashing of the cognizance order as well as all consequential proceedings pending before the Special Court.

The private complaint was filed by an RSS member, alleging that Kharge had made allegedly defamatory statements against the RSS and its members through social media posts and other public statements in October 2025. The complaint also contained allegations concerning statements allegedly made by Nalapad.

The Special Court, while taking cognizance against Kharge and Nalapad, dropped proceedings against former Karnataka Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao.

The complainant had alleged that certain statements made by Kharge, including remarks concerning RSS activities, were defamatory and harmed the organisation's reputation. Kharge has disputed the allegations.

The proceedings before the trial court subsequently continued. On August 29, the Special Court granted bail to Kharge and Nalapad after noting that the offence under Section 356 BNS is bailable. Both accused denied the allegations and sought trial. The matter was thereafter posted for recording of the complainant's evidence.

On September 19, the trial court granted exemption from personal appearance to Kharge and Nalapad under Section 317 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The complainant was granted a final opportunity to lead evidence, with the matter posted for October 7.

Kharge has now approached the High Court seeking to bring the criminal proceedings to an end. Among the grounds raised in his petition is that he had been represented through counsel and that his personal appearance before the trial court causes difficulties as he ordinarily resides in Kerala.

The High Court is seized of the petition challenging the trial court's cognizance order. The plea, at this stage, concerns the continuation of the criminal proceedings and does not amount to a finding by the High Court on whether the alleged remarks constitute defamation.

The proceedings against Kharge and Nalapad arise from the June 27 cognizance order under Section 356 BNS. The Special Court had found sufficient prima facie material to proceed against the two accused, while dropping the proceedings against Gundu Rao.

Case Title: Sri Priyank M. Kharge v. Sri Tejas A.

Case No.: CRL.P 13980/2026

Tags: