The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the Karnataka government’s appeal challenging a Karnataka High Court order quashing an FIR against BJP MP Tejasvi Surya for allegedly spreading fake news about a farmer’s suicide in Haveri district. The bench, led by Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran, rebuked the state, stating, “Don’t politicise the matter. Fight your battles before the electorate.”

The case originated from Surya’s November 7, 2024, post on X, citing Kannada news reports claiming farmer Rudrappa Channappa Balikai died by suicide due to a Waqf Board land dispute. The Haveri police clarified the 2022 suicide was due to financial distress from crop loss and debts, not Waqf issues, leading to a suo-motu FIR under Section 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for promoting enmity. Surya deleted the post after the clarification.

The Karnataka High Court, on December 12, 2024, quashed the FIR, deeming it an “abuse of process” as the tweet lacked intent to incite unrest, a ruling the Supreme Court upheld.

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