Karnataka HC quashes BJP defamation case against ex-CM for ‘corruption rate card’ ads

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday quashed a criminal defamation case filed by the Bharatiya Janata Party’s state unit against former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah about the “corruption rate card” advertisements by Congress during the Assembly elections that year, Live Law reported.

In July 2025, the High Court had stayed proceedings in the case.

Ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections, the Congress’ advertisements alleged that the BJP-led government in Karnataka had fixed rates of bribes for job appointments and transfers.

The BJP alleged that the advertisements damaged the Hindutva party’s image by claiming that certain “rates” and “commissions” were charged for facilitating the appointments in government jobs, Live Law reported.

The complaint also alleged that the advertisements used the words “trouble engine sarkar” to malign the BJP’s reputation. The phrase was a play on the “double engine sarkar” slogan used by the BJP to urge voters to elect it at the Centre and in states.

The Congress was elected to power in Karnataka in 2023, replacing the BJP government.

In May 2023, the Election Commission issued a notice to the Congress’ Karnataka unit in connection with the advertisements. There appeared to be a prima facie violation of the Model Code of Conduct, said the poll panel.

The code is a set of guidelines issued by the poll panel that political parties,...

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