In a relief to Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, the Karnataka High Court on Thursday stayed the trial court proceedings in a criminal defamation case filed against him by the State BJP unit.

The interim order also extends protection to the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), which was also named in the case.

Justice SR Krishna Kumar issued notice to the respondent, returnable on July 29. Earlier this year, the same court had stayed proceedings in the same case against Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.

Senior Advocate K Shashi Kiran Shetty and Advocate Surya Mukundaraj appeared for Shivakumar, while KPCC was represented by Advocates S A Ahamed and Sanjay B Yadav.

The defamation case stems from a series of advertisements titled “Corruption Rate Card” published by the KPCC in local newspapers during the run-up to the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections. The BJP alleged that the ads falsely accused the party of charging 'rates' and 'commissions' for government appointments and transfers, thereby damaging its public image. The BJP has claimed the ads were a product of “fanciful imagination” with the intent to malign the party.

One of the BJP’s specific objections was to the use of the phrase “trouble engine Sarkar” in the advertisements—allegedly a satirical twist on the NDA’s campaign phrase “double engine Sarkar”—which the party says was aimed at ridiculing and defaming it during the elections.

The complaint states that the ads were issued by DK Shivakumar in his capacity as KPCC president, with support from then-Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah. It further alleges that Rahul Gandhi amplified the campaign by sharing the content on his X (formerly Twitter) handle.

The matter will be heard next on July 29.