In a significant development, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was granted bail on Friday in a defamation case brought against him by Karnataka BJP MLC Keshav Prasad.
The proceedings took place before the 42nd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court, where Gandhi appeared.
D K Suresh, brother of former MP and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, provided surety of property valued at Rs 75 lakh for Rahul Gandhi.
The court has set the next hearing for 30 July, adjourning the matter.
Supporters, including advocates and Congress party members, gathered at the court premises to welcome Gandhi.
Following the court session, enthusiastic Congress party workers voiced their support for Rahul Gandhi.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM Shivakumar departed from the court together, with Rahul Gandhi expressing his gratitude to party workers as he waved from the vehicle, visibly cheerful.
Earlier, Rahul Gandhi received a warm welcome from Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar upon his arrival at the airport.
The defamation case revolves around allegations that the Congress engaged in propaganda through full-page advertisements, accusing the previous BJP government in Karnataka of levying a 40 percent commission for managing government projects.
Prasad contended that during the previous Assembly elections, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar had made false allegations to deceive the people of the state, calling for legal action under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Both CM Siddaramaiah and Dy CM Shivakumar previously appeared in court on June 1 and secured bail.
Despite giving an undertaking at that time, Rahul Gandhi, also implicated in the case, was absent.
The BJP leader’s counsel had requested a non-bailable arrest warrant against him.
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