BJP State president and former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Thursday moved the High Court of Karnataka seeking a direction to restrain the media and Congress leaders, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, from making defamatory statements against him in connection with the criminal cases already closed and those pending against him.
Justice G. Narendar, before whom the petition came up for hearing, ordered issuance of notices to the Press Council of India and the body of private television news broadcasters while refusing to pass any interim order at this stage.
Meanwhile, the court orally observed that the questions raised in the petition is a larger issue and hence directed the PCI and the body of private news broadcasters to be made as respondents in the petition.
Mr. Yeddyurappa has moved the High Court after a Bengaluru sessions court last month declined to issue an ex parte temporary injunction against 22 print and electronic media houses and seven Congress leaders on his suit, which is pending consideration before the civil court.
It has been pointed out in Mr. Yeddyurappa’s petition that the Congress leaders are issuing defamatory statements against him on the cases related to alleged corruption in which he has been acquitted of all the charges or the cases have been quashed by courts.
Also, it has been claimed in the petition that the Congress leaders are making remarks against him based on certain other cases, which are sub judice, and such remarks amount to interference in the process of administration of justice.
Mr. Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president G. Parameshwara, KPCC working president Dinesh Gundu Rao, Water Resources Minister M.B. Patil, MLCs C.M. Ibrahim and V.S. Ugrappa, and Congress spokesperson Brijesh Kalappa have been made respondents in the petition along with 22 media houses.
