The Karnataka High Court quashes the criminal case against BJP president JP Nadda over comments made during the election rally

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday (November 7) quashed a criminal case registered against BJP national president JP Nadda regarding certain remarks made during an election rally in April 2023 for allegedly unlawfully influencing voters.

A single right bench of Justice M. Nagaprasanna granted the petition and quashed the offense registered under sections 171F (punishment for undue influence or personation in elections), 171C (undue influence in elections) of the IPC and section 123(2) (undue influence) of the Representation of the People Act at Shiggaon Police Station. On October 12, 2023, the Supreme Court had stayed further investigation in the case.

The complaint filed by the Election Commission flying squad member said that during a meeting on April 19, 2023, at the Shiggaon Taluk playground, Nadda allegedly threatened voters that if they did not support the BJP, they would be denied entry. generosity of the central government.

In August 2023 The Supreme Court had quashed a similar complaint against Nadda for allegedly provoking and threatening voters during an election rally in May ahead of the Assembly elections.

The court had subsequently said that it had found the allegations in the complaint “vague” and added: “On the basis of such a vague complaint loosely lodged against the petitioner, the crime is registered in Crime No. 89 of 2023 and the sword of the crime remains hanging on the petitioner, projecting it as an offence..”

Case Title: JP Nadda AND Karnataka State

Case No: WP 22933/2023

Citation number: 2024 LiveLaw (Kar) 460