Karnataka High Court Restrains Power TV From Telecasting Alleged Sting Video Of Former MLA A Manjunath, Cites Privacy Violation

The Karnataka High Court has restrained Power Smart Media Private Limited, which operates Power TV, its Managing Director Rakesh Sanjeeva Shetty and other respondents from telecasting or circulating an alleged covert sting recording of former Magadi MLA A. Manjunath, citing the risk of privacy violation.

Justice KV Aravind passed the interim order while hearing Manjunath's plea challenging a trial court's refusal to grant an ex parte injunction against publication of the alleged recording.

The Court observed that the trial court's refusal to restrain publication could lead to “breach of privacy” and “irreparable damage and hardship” to the petitioner.

According to the plaint, Shetty stated during a Power TV programme on October 16, 2026, that he possessed a “sting video” of Manjunath, allegedly recorded in March 2023. The former MLA claimed that he had been covertly recorded in a private setting without his knowledge or consent and was unaware of the recording until the broadcast.

Manjunath approached the High Court after the vacation court declined to grant an ad-interim restraint, despite observing that his apprehension could not be considered wholly speculative.

The High Court noted that the trial court had considered the requirements for an injunction but ultimately failed to restrain publication of the alleged private video. It held that such refusal could cause irreversible harm that could not be compensated.

The interim order restrains the respondents from directly or indirectly disseminating the impugned material through any medium. The Court also directed issuance of notice to the respondents, with the restraint to remain in force until the next hearing.

Manjunath did not press his separate application seeking removal of the existing broadcast from YouTube and Facebook.

In a similar matter, a Bengaluru Court previously granted an ex-parte ad-interim injunction restraining 42 media houses, including Freedom TV Kannada and a YouTube channel named Karnataka Honey Trap, from disseminating an alleged “honey trap” video concerning former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Adv Angad Kamath appeared for the petitioner Ex -MLA.