Rahul Gandhi, Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar summoned over “defamatory” 40% commission ad

AICC leader Rahul Gandhi, as well as Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar have received summons from a special court in Bengaluru in connection with a defamation case the BJP had filed against them over a “40% commission” advertisement the Congress had released during the assembly election campaign last year.

Summons have been sent out directing both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar to appear in court on April 29. Gandhi has to appear on June 1, even as his advocate tried to apply for an exemption from appearing in court due to ongoing election commitments.

The court had summoned the leaders back in June last year, after BJP’s state secretary S Keshavprasad filed the complaint on May 9, for publishing an advertisement that claimed the then-incumbent BJP took 40% commission on government contracts and had looted Rs 1.5 lakh crore from the state. The advertisement, Keshavprasad alleged, tarnished the reputation of the BJP.

During the fiercely contested assembly elections last year, the Congress had cornered the BJP, accusing it of taking 40% bribe in every government contract. The Congress had been accusing the BJP ever since the State Contractors’ Association wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the BJP’s regime, making the allegation last year in April. A contractor had committed suicide, saying he was unable to meet his expenses due to the high bribes needed.