The Karnataka High Court on Friday quashed a criminal case against former Republic TV Editor Arnab Goswami and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Amit Malviya registered for their claims that the Congress has an office in Istanbul, Bar and Bench reported.
Justice M Nagaprasanna was hearing petitions filed by Goswami and Malviya to quash the first information report against them.
On May 15, 2025, during a news segment on the TV channel, Goswami had falsely claimed that the Istanbul Congress Center is an office of the Indian National Congress. The building shown during the show is a convention centre owned by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Alt News reported.
Malviya had shared a video on May 17, 2025, asking why the Congress had a registered office in Turkey.
“Did you know that the Congress Party has a registered office in Turkey?” he wrote on social media. “Can Rahul Gandhi explain what necessitated this move? This is bizarre and inexplicable on multiple levels. India deserves to know. Remember: the enemy’s friend is an enemy too.”
The Bengaluru Police had at the time booked Goswami, and Malviya on a separate complaint by an Indian Youth Congress leader. The FIR had been registered under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot and intentional insult...