Karnataka High Court Quashes Case Against Man For Printing 'Vote For Narendra Modi' Message On Wedding Invite

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday (December 17) quashed the criminal proceedings initiated against a man booked for allegedly printing a message on his own wedding invite which read 'the gift that you would give me in the marriage is vote for Narendra Modi'.

A single judge bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna passed the order on a petition filed by one Shivaprasad. It said “Allowed and quashed.”

The detailed order is awaited. 

Earlier, the court had while issuing notice to the respondents said, “There shall be an interim order of stay of all further proceedings in C.C.No.238/2024, qua the petitioners, till the next date of hearing”

The petitioners had approached the court seeking to quash the FIR registered against them under Section 127A (Restrictions on the printing of pamphlets, posters, etc.) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

Advocate Vinod Kumar M appearing for the petitioners argued that printing of the invitation was done on March 1 long before the declaration of elections. The election press note bringing in the model code of conduct was released on March 16 and therefore, it would not make an offence under Section 127A of the Act, he said.

He further argued, “Acts were required to be done only during the election and not prior to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to attract the offence”.

Case Title: SHIVAPRASAD AND State of Karnataka & ANR

Case No: WP 19700/2024

Citation No: 2024 LiveLaw (Kar) 516