Hyderabad: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition filed by the Telangana BJP against Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy in a defamation case, bringing relief to the Congress leader. The petition challenged a Telangana High Court order that had set aside proceedings initiated by a local court.
Supreme Court dismisses BJP plea against Revanth Reddy
The case stemmed from remarks made by Revanth Reddy during the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign at a public meeting in Kothagudem. BJP leader Kasam Venkateshwarlu had filed a complaint in the Hyderabad special court for people’s representatives, alleging that Reddy’s statement—that reservations would be scrapped if the BJP came to power damaged the party’s reputation.
The trial court had taken cognizance of the case under Section 125 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Revanth Reddy took the matter to the High Court, which threw out the case. The judges said political speeches often rely on exaggeration, and that alone doesn’t make them defamatory.
Apex court upholds High Court ruling
The BJP challenged the High Court’s decision in the Supreme Court. However, a bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai dismissed the plea, observing that courts should not be converted into political battlegrounds. The Chief Justice also remarked that political leaders should learn to be less sensitive to criticism.
With the dismissal, the defamation case against Chief Minister Revanth Reddy stands closed at the highest judicial level.
