Karnataka HC quashes FIR against man over 'Vote for Modi' wedding invite
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has quashed an FIR and related criminal proceedings against Shivaprasad, a resident of Dakshina Kannada district, for including a message on his wedding invitation urging guests to vote for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2024 parliamentary elections.
Justice M Nagaprasanna, delivering the order on Tuesday, also quashed proceedings against Balakrishna A, the owner of the printing agency that produced the invitations. A detailed judgment is awaited.
The FIR, filed under s. 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and s. 127A of the Representation of the People Act (RP Act), was based on a complaint by election officer Sandesh KN. The officer alleged that Shivaprasad’s invitation card, which read, "Voting for Modi is the gift for my wedding," violated the election code of conduct.
However, Shivaprasad, represented by advocate Vinod Kumar, argued that the invitations were printed on March 1, prior to the enforcement of the election code, which commenced on March 16 following the announcement of the Lok Sabha election schedule. The complaint, filed on April 19, was therefore claimed to be invalid.
Justice Nagaprasanna, during an earlier hearing on November 11, granted an interim stay on the FIR, noting that the alleged offence under the RP Act could not apply as the invitations were printed before the code of conduct took effect. The Court further observed procedural lapses in the Magistrate's handling of the case, deeming the FIR "bad in law."
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Rahul Gandhi joins Haryana Congress leader's 'Sadbhav Yatra' in Gurugram
Gurugram (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday joined the 'Sadbhav Yatra' of Haryana Congress leader Brijendra Singh here.
Gandhi, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, reached Gurugram in the evening and joined the yatra. He also walked some distance with Brijendra, state Congress chief Rao Narender Singh and other leaders.
Huge crowds had turned up for the occasion.
Later, Gandhi proceeded to the venue where he addressed a public gathering.
Leader of Opposition in Haryana Bhupinder Singh Hooda and other Congress leaders, including Randeep Singh Surjewala, B K Hariprasad, state Congress chief Rao Narender Singh, were also present.
Brijendra Singh had on Thursday said it is a matter of joy for them that Gandhi was joining the 'Sadbhav Yatra' in Gurugram-Badshahpur, "thereby strengthening the Indian National Congress' campaign for brotherhood and harmony".
The 'Sadbhav Yatra' began from Danoda village at Narwana in Jind on October 5, 2025, and has covered 85 of the 90 assembly segments in the state.
The foot march was started by Brijendra Singh, son of Congress veteran Birender Singh, to highlight several national and regional issues.
State Congress chief Rao Narender Singh had asked all party leaders to take part in Friday's event.
Days before his yatra began in October, Brijendra Singh, who narrowly lost the 2024 assembly polls from Jind's Uchana Kalan, accused the ruling BJP of playing "divisive politics" and said that "sadbhav" (harmony) has come under stress in the last decade.
Brijendra Singh was a sitting MP from Hisar for the BJP when he resigned ahead of the 2024 general election and switched over to the Congress. He also alleged that the saffron party creates a wedge in society to achieve its political purpose.
The 'padyatra' has so far covered 85 assembly constituencies in Haryana, traversing more than 2,700 kilometres.
Addressing the public gathering, Brijendra Singh said the yatra is inspired by Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, where he took the party's vision and values directly to the people of the country.
Singh said the yatra has highlighted issues like "Vote Chori" (vote theft), unemployment, poor law and order situation, agrarian distress, and issues related to government employees, labourers and traders.
"Sadbhav (harmony) and bhaichara (brotherhood), which the BJP is attempting to weaken, are the messages of this yatra," he said, adding that its slogan is "Congress ka haath bhaichara ka saath".
"This yatra is a natural extension of the Bharat Jodo Yatra," Brijendra Singh said.
