The Karnataka High Court granted a final opportunity to Aaj Tak and former editor Sudhir Chaudhury to argue their plea seeking quashing of a 2023 FIR concerning alleged communal reporting in the State government’s Svalambi Sarathi Scheme.
The FIR arose from a September 11, 2023 news broadcast in which Chaudhury reportedly claimed that the Karnataka government was restricting the scheme’s benefits to religious minorities while excluding non-minority Hindus, amounting to alleged minority appeasement. The scheme, implemented by the Karnataka State Minorities Development Corporation Ltd, provides subsidies to minorities for vehicle purchases.
Justice J.M. Khazi, while passing the order, directed, “As a last chance, list this matter on October 13. If the counsel for the petitioners fails to proceed with the hearing on that day, the petition will stand dismissed for non-prosecution.”
Chaudhury faces charges under Section 153A and Section 505 IPC, which carry a potential sentence of up to three years imprisonment. During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel confirmed that an earlier oral undertaking to refrain from precipitative action remains in effect. The counsel also stated that his client is fully cooperating with the investigation.
The respondent’s counsel sought an undertaking from the petitioners to continue cooperating with the investigation. ASPP B.N. Jagadeesha emphasized that the matter was specifically listed for hearing and reiterated the need for petitioner cooperation.
The High Court also disposed of a previous application seeking a stay of investigations, noting that two applications filed in 2023 and 2025 sought identical relief. The 2023 application was treated as withdrawn.
Senior Advocate Uday Holla, representing Chaudhury, argued in an earlier hearing that the news report merely highlighted that the budget announcement initially intended to include both minorities and SC/ST communities, but the final scheme applied only to minorities. However, the Court pointed out that this clarification was issued only in a later broadcast, the initial report had explicitly stated that the incentives were exclusively for minority communities, excluding Hindus.
The bench remarked, “Role of media is to provide information. But this is not the way to provide information. The average viewer may perceive this as preferential treatment, which could incite communal animosity. Benefits are not confined to minorities; they are also available to corporate entities".
The FIR was lodged following a complaint by the Administrative Officer of the Karnataka State Minorities Development Corporation, alleging that the broadcast was intended to disturb communal harmony in the state.
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