The Supreme Court stayed criminal defamation proceedings today against India Today journalists Rajdeep Sardesai and Shiv Aroor, and group head Aroon Purie, Bar and Bench reported.

The case was related to a cash-for-votes sting operation aired by India Today in 2016. The report alleged that some lawmakers in Karnataka were being bribed in exchange for votes ahead of Rajya Sabha elections. 

A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud put the defamation proceedings on hold today and sought the response of the Karnataka government. 

The case was filed in 2016 itself by former state legislator BR Patil, who was one of the legislators accused in the report. In December 2023, the Karnataka High Court had refused to halt the defamation proceedings, which led to an appeal before the top court. 

The Karnataka High Court judgement had noted that there were allegations that the accused had telecast “doctored” graphics and made derogatory remarks against Patil. It also said that, prima facie, there had been an offence of “making a false electronic record to harm the complainant’s reputation”.

According to Bar and Bench, the high court had also noted that the authorities should not insist on Purie being personally present in court unless his role in the telecast of the report and in the sting operation had been established. It concluded that the case required further investigation.

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