HC quashes case against Karnataka CM for sharing allegedly morphed image of BJP protest

The Karnataka High Court on Friday quashed criminal proceedings against Chief Minister DK Shivakumar for allegedly sharing a morphed photo of a protest held by Bharatiya Janata Party leaders in 2024, Bar and Bench reported.

The bench allowed Shivakumar’s petition to set aside the proceedings.

BJP leaders had held a protest in January 2024 against the arrest of a person who had participated in the agitation relating to the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992, Bar and Bench reported. The leaders had held placards saying “I’m also a Kar Sevak, arrest me too”.

The complainant, the Karnataka BJP’s legal unit chief, had alleged that the Congress publicity team had altered the text on the placards to make it appear as if the Hindutva party leaders were admitting to having been involved in scams and other irregularities, the legal news outlet reported.

The allegedly edited photo had been posted on social media and shared through Shivakumar’s account, who was the Karnataka deputy chief minister and Congress state president at the time.

The complainant alleged that the post amounted to the use of a false document and was intended to create enmity between groups.

The counsel for Shivakumar contended that the offences of promoting enmity between groups, circulating false statements to create hatred, intentional insult to provoke a breach of...

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