A private defamation complaint against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah regarding his comment about a "Lingayat chief minister" during the run-up to the recent Assembly elections in the state has been dismissed by a special court in Bengaluru.
It was alleged when one news reporter questioned as to what is his opinion on BJP’s strategy of selecting a Lingayat Candidate as Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah replied by making a "malicious statement" that previous CMs, who were Lingayats, have spoiled the state due to their corrupt nature, the complaint contended as per LiveLaw.
The Special Court exclusively to deal with criminal cases related to elected former and sitting MPs/MLAs on Tuesday dismissed the complaint filed for the alleged offences under Sections 499 (defamation) and 500 (punishment for defamation) of the Indian Penal Code.
The private complaint lodged by Shankar Shet and Mallaiah Hiremath further alleged that Siddaramaiah had defamed the Lingayat community with his answer to the question by a journalist during the Assembly election. The Congress leader was asked if his party would make a Lingayat the Chief Minister if it came to power.
Siddaramaiah allegedly replied that then incumbent CM Basavaraj Bommai was a Lingayat who had indulged in corruption and spoilt the state.
The court in response said that the statement is not made in respect of the entire Lingayat Community, but only in respect of the Chief Minister who was holding the position of Chief Minister, as on the date of the statement.
"The accused has not targeted the members of the Lingayat Community as such nor any imputation has been made against the Lingayat Community as such," it further said.
