A district court in Sangrur, Punjab, has issued a bailable arrest warrant of Rs 15,000 against Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. The legal action stems from a defamation complaint filed over controversial remarks comparing the Bajrang Dal to banned outfits in the Congress party's 2023 Karnataka assembly election manifesto. The court has ordered Kharge to appear before it by September 19, 2026.
Court Warning and Bailable Warrant Terms
According to the judicial directions issued by the Sangrur court, if Mallikarjun Kharge fails to present himself in court by the deadline of September 19, 2026, a non-bailable warrant will be issued against him. The court had previously served a legal notice to the Congress leader regarding the matter. Although the current warrant is bailable upon furnishing a bond of Rs 15,000, Kharge is required to make a formal court appearance to secure bail.
Origins of the Controversy in Karnataka Elections
The dispute dates back to the campaign period for the May 2023 Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections. In its official campaign manifesto, the Congress party drew parallels between the Bajrang Dal and the banned organization PFI (Popular Front of India), as well as anti-national groups like SIMI and Al-Qaeda. Furthermore, the manifesto pledged that if voted to power in the state, the party would enact a ban on the Bajrang Dal.
Rs 100 Crore Defamation Suit
Objecting strongly to the manifesto's contents, a Hindu organization and Bajrang Dal representatives approached the Sangrur district court and lodged a defamation suit seeking Rs 100 crore in damages. The complainant alleged that the comparison severely maligned the organization's reputation. The matter remains sub-judice as the court proceeds with the hearing and subsequent legal steps.
