HC bins defamation case against CM
Bharatiya Janata Party
over remarks he allegedly made during the 2024 general election campaign.
Justice K Lakshman held that attempting to make a criminal defamation case out of a political speech would itself be an exaggeration, noting that such speeches are typically charged rhetoric aimed at political opponents.
The complaint had been filed by Kasam Venkateshwarlu, general secretary of Telangana BJP, alleging that Revanth made "false, defamatory, and provocative" statements during a public address on May 4, 2024, including accusations that the BJP intended to abolish SC, ST, and BC reservations, if voted to power.
The BJP argued that the remarks harmed the party's public image.
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The complainant sought criminal action under section 499 of the IPC (defamation) and section 125 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. A trial court had taken cognisance of the case, prompting Revanth to seek quashing of proceedings before the high court.
Justice Lakshman quashed the case, citing multiple legal grounds. The court found that BJP's Telangana unit is not a separately recognised political party under the Representation of the People Act or the Constitution.
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Only the national BJP has such recognition. Therefore, the state unit lacked legal standing to file a complaint independently, it said.
The court further noted that Venkateshwarlu had no authorisation from the national BJP leadership to pursue legal action. Since the alleged remarks were directed at the BJP as a whole, only the national party or its duly authorised representative could have filed such a complaint.
Justice Lakshman emphasised political speeches inherently allow a wider latitude for criticism and exaggeration, and treating such remarks as criminal defamation could stifle democratic discourse and free speech. Accordingly, the court quashed the proceedings pending before the legislators' court in Hyderabad, holding that the complaint was not legally sustainable.
Senior counsel T Niranjan Reddy, appearing for CM Revanth, welcomed the ruling, stating that the judgment upholds the spirit of free expression in political debate. He said the order reaffirms that state units of national parties cannot independently initiate defamation proceedings without explicit authorisation from the central leadership.
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