Special court issues notice to Priyank Kharge, Dinesh Gundu Rao and Nalapad on defamation complaint of RSS member

A special court in Bengaluru has ordered issue of notice to Priyank Kharge, Minister for Information Technology and Rural Development, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, and Mohammed Haris Nalapad, former president of Karnataka Pradesh Youth Congress Committee (KPYCC), on a complaint of allegedly defaming the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its members through social media posts.

K.N. Shivakumar, judge of the Special Court of Magistrate for criminal cases against former and present MPs and MLAs, passed the order on January 3 on a complaint, lodged in November 2024 by Tejas A., a member of the RSS and a resident of Bengaluru, under Section 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

It was alleged in the complaint that Mr. Kharge had first posted his letter, dated October 4, 2025, to the Chief Minister, containing false, baseless and derogatory remarks against the RSS and its activities, on his X account. Later, the complaint had alleged that Mr. Kharge again posted two comments on his X account on October 13 and 14, 2025, asking people “never be a friend of a RSS member”, while describing the RSS members as “real venomous and real abusers… etc.,”

Following these social media posts, Mr. Rao made derogatory remarks against RSS members on his X account, besides giving defamatory statements before television media.

Mr. Nalapad, the complaint alleged, had used abusive words against RSS members in his speech that was aired through YouTube channels.

The complainant had stated that he was embarrassed and insulted following these social media posts, as two of his friends, Mahesh and Satish, had not only questioned him about the activities of the RSS but also raised questions about the conduct of RSS members like him.

Pointing out that Section 323 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita mandates hearing of the accused persons before taking cognisance of the alleged offence, the court ordered issue of notice to them while adjourning further hearing on the complaint till January 14.