Goa, July 11 -- The Karnataka High Court on Friday granted interim relief to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah by staying proceedings in a criminal defamation case filed by the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The case centers around a series of political advertisements and slogans released by the Congress party during the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections.

The Congress campaign accused the then BJP-led government of demanding up to 40 percent commission on public works and government appointments. The ads, published in multiple newspapers, labeled the BJP administration as a "40 percent commission sarkar" and featured a "corruption rate card" listing alleged bribe amounts for transfers, tenders, and contracts.

Justice SR Krish...