Bengaluru Court Summons Home Minister Priyank Kharge In Defamation Case Over Remarks Against RSS
A Bengaluru Court on Saturday (June 27) took cognizance of a private complaint alleging that Karnataka Home Minister and Congress Leader Priyank Kharge made defamatory remarks against the RSS.
The court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bengaluru city while taking cognizance of offence under Section 356 BNS (criminal defamation) against Kharge and Congress leader Mohammed Haris Nalapadm issued summons to them. The court however noted that proceedings against respondent no. 2, Congress MLA Dinesh Gundu Rao, have been dropped.
The case history, as per the court website, notes:
"Cognizance is taken of the offence P/U/Sec.356 of BNS, 2023 against the accused Nos. 1 and 3. The proceedings against accused No.2 are dropped. Office is directed to register this case as C.C in Register No.III and issue summons to the Accused Nos. 1 and 3 returnable by:21/07/2026".
The private complainant, Tejas A, in his deposition from December 2025 states that on 04.10.2025, Priyank Kharge posted on Twitter that, "RSS should be banned from holding any kind of ceremonies and branch activities in government places and school premises, they are giving wrong message to the people, causing harm to the country, taking the youth on the wrong path."
The complainant has claimed in his deposition, that Kharge on 14.10.2025, again posted on his Twitter that "If your brother, sister, girlfriend, or any other person in your house is working in RSS, stop your relationship with them". He has further stated that two days later, MLA Dinesh Gundu Rao made a social media post blaming RSS for the murders of Gauri Lankesh, Govind Pansare and MM Kalaburagi.
After that, the complainant has stated that, Shanthinagar MLA Harris's son Nalapad said on his YouTube channel that RSS had no strength.
Aggrieved by the remarks the complainant lodged the private complaint under the BNSS against the three respondents.
The matter is listed on July 21.
Case Title: TEJAS.A v/s PRIYANK KHARGE & OTHERS
P.C.R. 18986/2025