Legislator to face defamation trial over press-conference bribery allegations against a minister
A Karnataka minister filed a criminal defamation complaint against a member of the Legislative Council over allegations he made at 2024 press conferences about bribes for land-use conversion. A Bengaluru magistrate took cognisance under Section 356(2) BNS. The Karnataka High Court refused to quash the case on 7 September 2026, leaving good faith and truth to be decided at trial.
This page records what the cited court records and reports say happened. Findings belong to the court or authority that made them; this register adds none of its own. Names of private individuals are withheld unless a naming gate clears them.
How we verify →The defamation case in C.C. No. 23151/2025 continues before the Bengaluru magistrate.
What happened
LiveLaw reported that at press conferences on 5 and 9 July 2024 about suspensions in the Mysore Urban Development Authority case, the legislator alleged the then urban development minister fixed bribes for land-use conversion.
The High Court recorded that the minister's complaint led the XLII Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bengaluru to take cognisance under Section 356(2) BNS in C.C. No. 23151/2025.
The High Court recorded the petitioner's argument that the statements fell under Exception 8 to Section 356 (good faith) and held that, as he did not dispute making them, good faith and harm to reputation must be tested at trial.
The High Court dismissed the petition without expressing any opinion on the merits.
What the record says
“The Court is of the view that as to whether the statements were made in good faith, whether the statements fall under the exceptions and whether the statements have actually lowered the reputation of the complainant/respondent, are the matters that have to be considered at the time of trial.”
Criminal Petition No. 14685 of 2025, Karnataka High Court, order dated 07.09.2026 — read the full text
Punished for a freedom
An opposition legislator faces criminal prosecution for corruption allegations he made against a minister at a press conference, with no allegation of violence.
What we could not confirm
The order is dated 7 September and was reported on 24 September 2026. The complainant is a serving minister suing in a personal capacity.