Bengaluru erupted in political tension as Karnataka Congress lodged a formal FIR against the state BJP unit for posting allegedly defamatory content on social media platform X. The controversial post targeted Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, and several cabinet ministers, branding them as ‘scam masters’ with edited images and inflammatory captions.
The BJP’s Karnataka handle shared a graphic featuring photos of the leaders superimposed with labels like ‘scam empire,’ accusing them of relentlessly looting the state’s resources. ‘This is the true story of Karnataka’s scam empire, plundering the state day and night,’ read the post, which quickly drew sharp backlash from Congress leaders.
Congress spokesperson and complainants rushed to Bengaluru’s Cyber Crime Police Station, filing a detailed complaint. They accused the BJP of deliberately misrepresenting public figures, editing images maliciously, and using baseless terms like ‘loot’ and ‘scam’ to incite hatred and unrest among the public. The post, they argued, was a calculated move to tarnish reputations and sow confusion in society.
‘Deeply malicious and false portrayal of constitutional officeholders,’ the complaint stated, demanding immediate legal action against the X account operators. Police have registered the FIR, signaling a potential escalation in the ongoing political slugfest between the ruling Congress and opposition BJP.
This incident underscores the rising stakes of digital warfare in Indian politics, where social media posts can trigger swift legal repercussions. As investigations proceed, both parties are bracing for further confrontations ahead of key state developments. The episode highlights the thin line between political critique and criminal defamation in the era of viral content.