Karnataka : Pradesh Congress Committee has approached the cybercrime police in Bengaluru, seeking legal action against the official social media account of the Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party. The complaint relates to a post on X that allegedly targeted Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, and several other ministers with unsubstantiated accusations.
According to party representatives, the move was prompted by concerns that the post crossed the line from political criticism into defamatory territory, potentially misleading the public and damaging reputations.
A legal team representing the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee submitted a formal complaint at the Cyber Crime Police Station in Bengaluru. Following the submission, police officials confirmed that a case has been registered and that the matter is under preliminary investigation.
The complaint names the official X handle of BJP Karnataka, alleging that a recent post featured photographs of senior state leaders accompanied by a caption that portrayed them as being involved in large-scale corruption.
In its filing, the Congress committee argued that the post attempted to brand the leaders as “Scam Lords” and falsely accused them of systematically looting the state. The party maintained that the content lacked factual backing and appeared designed to create distrust and confusion among citizens.
Those named in the post include Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, along with other cabinet members. The complaint states that the language and imagery used went beyond acceptable political discourse.
Cybercrime police officials said the complaint has been formally accepted and entered into records. They noted that investigators will assess whether the post violates relevant sections of law related to defamation, online misconduct, or misinformation. Authorities added that no conclusions have been drawn at this stage, and due process will be followed before any further steps are taken.
The disputed post, shared from the BJP Karnataka account on X, described what it called the “scam empire” of the Congress-led state government and accused it of misgovernance. The post included political slogans and hashtags critical of the ruling party.
While the BJP has not issued a detailed response to the cybercrime complaint, party leaders have continued to raise allegations of corruption against the state government in public forums.
Separately, Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra demanded a thorough investigation into alleged irregularities in the state excise department, which he claimed involved more than Rs 6,000 crore. He insisted that Excise Minister Ramappa Timmapur should step down to allow a fair inquiry.
Vijayendra said the investigation should be conducted either by a sitting High Court judge or the Central Bureau of Investigation, arguing that an independent probe was essential to establish credibility.
Addressing reporters, Vijayendra announced that the BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) would jointly stage a protest near the Mahatma Gandhi statue at Vidhana Soudha. The demonstration, he said, is intended to press for accountability and highlight what the opposition describes as failures of the Congress administration.
He accused the government of avoiding discussion on the excise issue within the legislature and alleged attempts to downplay the seriousness of the claims.
The developments underscore rising political friction in Karnataka, with both major parties escalating their disputes through legal complaints, public protests, and social media campaigns. As the cybercrime investigation proceeds and opposition protests take shape, the issue is expected to remain a focal point in the state’s political discourse in the coming days.
