Court Orders Submission of Video Evidence in Kharge Speech Case

The Rouse Avenue Court has requested the complainant (revisionist) to submit links to news video clips featuring Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's speech during an election rally in Karnataka in April 2023. This request comes as the court hears a revision petition challenging a magistrate court's decision that dismissed a complaint regarding Kharge's purportedly offensive remarks. The revision petition seeks to overturn an order issued by the Tis Hazari Court on November 11, 2025. Special Judge Jitendra Singh instructed the complainant's attorney, Ravinder Gupta, to provide the video links, expressing his desire to view the speech himself. The case is scheduled for clarification on August 6.

Attorney Gagan Gandhi represented the revision petitioner and presented counterarguments. This case pertains to the alleged hate speech delivered by Kharge during an election rally in Naregal, Karnataka, in April 2023. The magistrate court had previously refused to order the filing of an FIR and later dismissed the complaint lodged by lawyer Ravinder Gupta, associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). On April 2, Kharge submitted his response to the revision court, denying all allegations and questioning the special court's jurisdiction to hear the revision petition. The response stated that while the special court has jurisdiction over cases involving MPs and MLAs, it does not have the authority to revise orders issued by a Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC).

In his response, Kharge denied the accusations of inciting hostility between communities, arguing that no offense is constituted under sections 153A, 153B, 295A, 499, 120B, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The response further clarified that the challenged order is not a review or withdrawal of the order issued on December 9, 2024, which denied the directive to file an FIR. Instead, it was passed after considering the complaint and statements recorded under section 200 of the CrPC. It was asserted that the revision petition lacks merit and should be dismissed. On January 29, 2026, the Rouse Avenue Court issued a notice to Kharge regarding the revision petition filed against the dismissal of the complaint. The Tis Hazari Court had previously dismissed the criminal complaint on November 11, 2025, stating that the alleged hate speech did not constitute an offense as it targeted political and ideological principles rather than any specific community or religion.

Earlier, on December 9, 2024, the court had also declined to order the filing of an FIR against Kharge.