Karnataka HC Stays Defamation Proceedings Against 'The News Minute' By BJP Leader Ravi Subramanya Seeking Damages Of ₹3 Crore

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday by way of interim relief stayed the defamation proceedings initiated against Spunklane Media Private Limited which owns and runs the news portal The News Minute, by BJP Leader L A Ravi Subramanya, in 2022.

A single judge bench of Justice Hemant Chandangoudar passed the order on the civil petition filed by the company challenging the order of the trial court rejecting its application before it under Order 7, Rule 11, (a) and (d), seeking to reject the plaint filed by Subramanya on the ground that it lacks merit.

The suit was filed by the plaintiff seeking damages to the tune of Rs 3 crore against various persons including media houses for the tweets and articles published. The News Minute on May 29, 2021, published the article titled "Yet another BJP-COVID-19 controversy in Bengaluru–MLA accused of blocking vaccines"

The company appeared before the trial court and contended that the plaintiff in the suit discloses no cause of action and is liable to be rejected. However, the trial court vide its order dated November 23, 2023, had rejected the application.

Before the High Court, the company submitted that the impugned order had been passed without consideration of the relevant facts and positions of law pleaded before the Trial Court, in a completely mechanical manner without consideration of the grounds raised by the petitioner and there is complete non-application of mind.

Further, it was said that Subramanya has nowhere in the plaint, set out the alleged defamatory works in any of the articles published nor explained the defamatory nature of the articles.

The plea prayed for setting aside the trial court order and also dismissing the suit. By way of interim relief, it was sought to stay the further proceedings in the suit till the final disposal of the petition. The matter will next be taken up for hearing on September 10.

Case Title: Spunklane Media Private Limited AND Ravi Subramanya L A

Case No: CRP 121/2024.

Appearance: Advocate Pradeep Nayak for Petitioner.