In a big relief to Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy, the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a defamation case filed against him by the Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party.
In the petition filed in the Supreme Court, BJP leader Kasam Venkateshwarlu, had alleged that comments made by Revanth during a 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign meeting in Kothagudem had damaged the party’s reputation.
Venkateshwarlu had complained in the Hyderabad Special Court for People’s Representatives that Revanth Reddy had falsely claimed the BJP would abolish reservations if it came to power.
The trial court proceeded with the case under Section 125 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
Revanth Reddy then approached the high court, arguing that political speeches often contain exaggerations and should not be treated as defamation. The high court struck down the trial court’s orders.
The BJP challenged this in the Supreme Court. On Monday, the case came up before a bench headed by Chief Justice B R Gavai, which also rejected the BJP’s plea.
The Supreme Court went a step further, expressing displeasure at the petitioner, warning against turning the courts into political battlegrounds.
CJI Gavai remarked that it would be better if political leaders were less sensitive to such remarks.