‘Advertisements Against BJP’: Karnataka Court summons Rahul Gandhi, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar

Bengaluru: Amid growing list of troubles mounting for Congress Party, a Special Court of Representatives on Friday summoned top Congress leers in Karnataka – Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Party leer Rahul Gandhi – to appear before it on March 28, over allegations of derogatory vertisements against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in run up to Karnataka Assembly Elections held last year.

court issued summons to Congress leers after conducting an inquiry, following a complaint by Vinod Kumar, lawyer representing BJP side, in which he h alleged that Congress h put out false vertisements against BJP leers, including n Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. "false" vertisements harmed BJP's reputation, Kumar h argued in court.

Special judge J Preeth also directed registration of a criminal case against accused persons, including Karnataka Presh Congress Committee, news agency PTI reported.

During Karnataka Assembly elections last year, Congress h accused BJP of "40 percent corruption" and placed several vertisements in newspapers alleging corruption by n ruling party.

ditionally, a poster campaign was launched targetting Bommai by displaying 'PayCM' posters with n CM’s images across city. Congress h also published a 'corruption rate card' against former government.

BJP h filed a defamation case against Congress leers after Assembly elections, alleging that vertisements damaged party's image. 

After hearing arguments, 42nd ditional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court ordered Congress leers to appear before it on March 28 in connection with case, PTI report said.