Sanjeeva Matandoor, the BJP MLA from the Puttur region of Karnataka, filed a suit in a Bengaluru court after images began circulating on social media of him with a woman. The MLA has alleged that this was an attempt to defame him at a time when he is expecting to be fielded again by the BJP in the May 10 Karnataka Assembly polls.

Matandoor has alleged that miscreants had morphed his photograph with some women and were sharing it on digital media. He also argued that damage to his reputation cannot be compensated in any manner since politicians consider reputation and character as assets in elections.

The court ruled that “the plaintiff made out the prima facie case that in all likelihood the defendants, the media, would publish the unverified defamatory news and articles and also telecast the videos. In that event, the damages caused to the reputation of the plaintiff in public life cannot be compensated in any manner”.

The court also passed a temporary order “restraining the defendants from telecasting or broadcasting or printing any news with regard to the plaintiff and showing live images, still images and visuals which are defamatory in nature” until disposal of the case.