NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday emphasised that this court has time and again cautioned against "use of this court for political battles," as it rejected a plea against quashing of a defamation complaint against Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India B R Gavai dismissed a petition filed by the BJP's Telangana unit challenging a high court order which quashed a defamation case against Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy over his speech during the 2024 Lok Sabha poll campaign.
"We are time and again saying don't use this court for political battles. Dismissed. If you are a politician, then you should have a thick skin," the bench also comprising Justices K Vinod Chandran and Atul S Chandurkar, told senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the complainant.
Refusing to interfere with the Telangana HC order, the court rejected the appeal filed by the BJP's Telangana unit, represented by its General Secretary.
The HC -- while allowing the plea of the CM Reddy -- in its order had quashed the defamation case against Reddy over his speech during the 2024 Lok Sabha poll campaign.
A trial court in August last year said that a prima facie case was made against Reddy for the alleged offences of defamation under the erstwhile Indian Penal Code (IPC) and under Section 125 of The Representation of the People (RP) Act, 1951.
This order was challenged by Reddy before the HC.
Reddy in his defence contended that in the case of political speeches, the threshold to allege defamation and maintain a complaint under Section 199 of the CrPC should be much higher.
The Telangana BJP Unit, however, claimed in his complaint that the alleged defamatory speech by Reddy lowered the BJP's reputation as a political party.
The HC said, "Political speeches are often exaggerated. To allege that such speeches are defamatory is another exaggeration."
The complaint alleged that Reddy 'connived' with the Telangana Congress Party to develop a fake and dubious political narrative that the BJP would end reservations if voted to power.
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