Supreme Court Rejects BJP Plea Against Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, Warns Politicians: “Courts Not Arenas for Political Scores”

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition filed by the BJP against Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy over an allegedly defamatory statement made during the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign.

A bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, along with Justices Sanjay Karol and P.S. Narasimha, threw out the plea while sending a blunt message to political leaders nationwide. The judges underscored that courts should not be dragged into partisan disputes.

Chief Justice BR Gavai, in strong words, noted: “We have repeatedly said — do not use this court to settle political scores. If you are a politician, you need to have a thick skin.”

The controversy traces back to a complaint from BJP Telangana General Secretary K Venkateshwarlu, who alleged that CM Reddy defamed the party during a campaign speech by claiming: “If BJP wins 400 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, they will abolish reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs.”

A magistrate’s court had initially ordered a case to be registered against the Chief Minister under the IPC and Representation of the People Act. However, the Telangana High Court, in August 2025, quashed the complaint. The High Court observed that the remarks targeted the BJP as a political entity, not an individual, and therefore the petitioner did not qualify as an “aggrieved person” under Section 199(1) of the CrPC.

During Monday’s proceedings, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing CM Reddy, argued that robust political exchanges cannot automatically be labeled as defamation. “If this is defamation, then no political debate can happen,” he stated.

The BJP’s legal team contended that the High Court’s interpretation was flawed and pressed for the case to be reinstated. But the Supreme Court found no substance in the argument and refused to interfere.

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