A Magistrate Court in Bengaluru has taken a significant step by issuing formal notices to two prominent Karnataka Congress ministers—Priyank Kharge, who handles Rural Development, Panchayat Raj, IT, and BT portfolios, and Dinesh Gundu Rao, the Health and Family Welfare Minister—along with Mohammad Haris Nalapad, the former president of Karnataka State Youth Congress. This action stems from a private complaint filed by an RSS member alleging that the trio made defamatory statements targeting the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, prompting the court to seek their response before deciding on formal cognisance.
The complainant, Tejas A, an RSS member residing in the city, invoked Section 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in his filing. The XLII Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate meticulously examined the complainant's statement along with testimonies from two witnesses, Mahesh and Satish, adhering strictly to the procedural requirements under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. Emphasizing fairness, the court noted that hearing the accused is mandatory prior to taking cognisance, leading to the issuance of notices and an adjournment of the matter until January 14.
At the heart of the allegations lies a letter penned by Priyank Kharge to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on October 13, 2025, advocating for restrictions on RSS activities on public playgrounds. The complaint specifically points to a subsequent post on Kharge's X account declaring, “Never be friend of an RSS member, be it your family member, brother, father or son. Because they are real venomous...”, accompanied by another post the following day, both characterized as severely defamatory and intended to vilify the organization in public perception.
Also Read: Karnataka Demolition Row: BJP Calls Venugopal’s Intervention ‘Remote-Control Rule’
The complaint extends to statements issued by Dinesh Gundu Rao to the media, where he expressed support for Kharge's stance, as well as social media posts by Nalapad echoing similar sentiments. These coordinated remarks, according to the complainant, collectively aimed to damage the reputation and image of the RSS, portraying it in a negative and harmful light before the broader society.
As the case progresses toward the scheduled hearing, this judicial intervention highlights deepening political frictions between the Congress-led government in Karnataka and the RSS, with potential implications for free speech boundaries in political discourse involving ideological organizations.
Also Read: Bengaluru Youths Arrested After Viral Video of Woman Rider Harassment