On Thursday, the Karnataka High Court sought a response from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regarding a petition filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is seeking to have a defamation case filed against him by the BJP quashed.

Justice M. Nagaprasanna issued a notice to the BJP and scheduled the next hearing for February 20.

Senior Counsel SK Shetty, representing Gandhi, argued that the BJP's complaint was based on a misunderstanding.

The defamation case was filed by BJP leader Keshav Prasad against Gandhi, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar in relation to advertisements and campaign slogans used by the Congress party during the 2023 Karnataka assembly elections.

In these ads, the Congress party accused the BJP, which was then in power, of demanding bribes or commissions of up to 40 percent from contractors and others involved in public works.

The BJP's complaint claimed that Congress leaders were disseminating false advertisements aimed at its members, including former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.

Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar were granted bail by a magistrate court on June 1, 2024, while Gandhi was granted bail on June 7, 2024.