On July 21, 2025, the Supreme Court of India refused to entertain the Karnataka State Government’s plea challenging the High Court’s decision to quash a criminal case filed against BJP MP Tejasvi Surya. The case was related to an allegedly false social media post made by Surya about a farmer's suicide in Haveri district.
The bench led by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice K Vinodchandran was hearing the Special Leave Petition filed by the State. The bench clearly dismissed the petition with a stern message, stating:
"What is this? Don’t politicise the matter. Fight your battles before the electorate. Dismissed with costs…"
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The controversy began on November 7, 2024, when Tejasvi Surya shared an article from a Kannada news portal. The post claimed that a farmer named Rudrappa Channappa Balikai had died by suicide after his land was allegedly taken over by the Waqf Board. However, the post was deleted soon after it came under scrutiny.
Subsequent investigation by the Haveri district Superintendent of Police (SP) revealed that the incident was falsely portrayed. The farmer’s suicide had occurred earlier on January 6, 2022, and was found to be linked to financial stress, crop failure, and pending loans, rather than any Waqf Board land dispute.
In response, the police had registered a suo motu case under Section 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for allegedly circulating statements aimed at creating enmity or hatred among groups.
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The Karnataka High Court had earlier quashed this FIR, stating that the evidence did not support continuation of proceedings under the alleged section. The State then moved the Supreme Court seeking to overturn this order, which was now rejected.
The Supreme Court's decision reiterates the need for political matters to be settled democratically through elections rather than legal forums.
Case Title: State of Karnataka vs. L.S. Tejasvi Surya
Diary No.: 26570/2025