Bengaluru Court Summons Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge In RSS Defamation Case

A Bengaluru court has issued summons to Congress leader and Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge and Youth Congress leader Mohammed Haris Nalapad over their alleged remarks against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Kharge, while serving as a Cabinet Minister, allegedly addressed a letter to the Karnataka government on October 4, 2025, requesting that the RSS be prevented from conducting its activities in government schools, colleges and playgrounds. The complaint further alleged that the letter was deliberately circulated to the media and published on Kharge’s social media platforms to defame the organisation.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate of Bengaluru City Sandeep Patil has directed them to appear on July 21, 2026.

Taking cognisance of a private criminal complaint against the Congress leaders, the Court has said that a prima facie case is made out for the offence of criminal defamation punishable under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

Court has declined to proceed against former Karnataka minister Dinesh Gundu Rao. "Cognizance is taken of the offence punishable under Section 356 of BNS, 2023 against accused Nos.1 and 3. The proceedings against accused No.2 is dropped. Office is directed to register this case as a criminal case and issue summons to accused Nos.1 and 3, returnable by July 21, 2026," the order states.

The complaint filed by Bengaluru resident and RSS worker A Tejas alleges that the statements attributed unlawful, anti social and objectionable activities to RSS and its members and portrayed the organization in a negative light before the public. It further alleged that the statements were deliberately circulated through various media, channels and social networking platforms with the intention of reaching a wider audience.

As per the Court's order, the complainant further submitted that even after objections were raised by several persons, the accused have neither withdrawn nor retracted the impugned statements. 

In its order, court has noted that the conduct of the accused persons in allegedly attempting to obstruct, restrict, or interfere with the activities carried out by persons associated with the RSS itself demonstrates that there are identifiable individuals who participate in and carry on such activities. Having targeted such individuals and their collective activities, the accused persons cannot now contend that no member exists and consequently no person can maintain a complaint, it has said on the accused challenging the maintanability of the complaint.

"...the expression “Swayamsevaks” or member as used in the alleged statements itself prima facie indicates reference to an identifiable and determinate class of persons. Once the accused persons themselves have used such description in the alleged imputations, the existence of a definable group cannot be denied at the threshold merely on the plea of absence of documentary proof of membership. Whether the complainant is part of such group is a matter to be established by evidence," court has said.

In its order the ACJM has further noted, "The intention of a person is seldom proved by direct evidence and is ordinarily gathered from the words used, the circumstances under which they were uttered, the target against whom they were directed, and the natural consequences that would ordinarily flow from such statements. When a person deliberately uses offensive and derogatory language against a particular organization and its members, the natural and probable consequence of such conduct is to lower their reputation and expose them to hatred, ridicule, contempt, or public disapproval."

Case Title: Tejas A vs Priyank Kharge and Ors.