- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010610332026 NC: 2026:KHC:47086 WP No. 27336 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 29TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 27336 OF 2026 (GM-RES) BETWEEN: 1. M/S MANJUNATHA STONE CRUSHERS REPRESENTED BY ITS PROPRIETOR SRI KASHI VISHWANTH, NO 15, 3RD CROSS AKSHAYA NILAYA, SAMGIGEHALLI, JAKKURU POST, YELEHANKA BENGALURU - 560 065 … PETITIONER (BY SRI. MAHENDRA S S., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. UNION OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING, SHASTRI BHAVAN, NEW DELHI - 110 001. 2. MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (MEITY) GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, NEW DELHI - 110 003. 3. STATE OF KARNATAKA, DEPARTMENT OF HOME, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU - 560 001. 4. THE DIRECTOR GENERAL AND INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, KARNATAKA STATE, BENGALURU - 560 001. Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010610332026 NC: 2026:KHC:47086 WP No. 27336 of 2026 5. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT, NO. 5, MILLERS ROAD, VASANTH NAGAR, BENGALURU - 560 052. 6. POWER TV NEWS, POWER SMART MEDIA, NO.7, 11TH MAIN, MATHIKERE MAIN ROAD 1ST STAGE, 1ST PHASE, GOKULA EXTENSION YESHWANTHPUR BENGALURU -560 056 REP. BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR …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ri.Rajshekhar, learned counsel has accepted notice for respondent No.1 and respondent No.2. Learned AGA accepts notice for respondent No.3 to - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010610332026 NC: 2026:KHC:47086 WP No. 27336 of 2026 respondent No.5. Notice to respondent No.6 is dispensed with in view of the proposed order to be passed. 2. The petitioner is before this Court seeking for the following reliefs: a) Issue a writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction directing Respondent Nos.1 to 3 to take appropriate action in accordance with law against the dissemination and continued telecast of false, defamatory, speculative and unverified reports concerning the incident which occurred within the Quarrying Lease area of the Petitioner and the consequent allegations and insinuations made in relation thereto; b) Issue a writ of Mandamus directing Respondent Nos.4 to 6 to remove and withdraw all telecasts, digital content, publications and social media posts relating to the said incident which seek to connect the Petitioner and the Hon'ble sitting Cabinet Minister, Shri K.H. Muniyappa with the alleged occurrence on the basis of presumed association, conjecture or unverified allegations; c) Declare that the impugned broadcasts, publications, digital content and social media posts, insofar as they contain false, defamatory, speculative and unverified allegations concerning the Petitioner and seek to connect the Hon'ble sitting Cabinet Minister, Shri K.H. Muniyappa with the alleged incident without any material or evidence, are arbitrary, unconstitutional and - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010610332026 NC: 2026:KHC:47086 WP No. 27336 of 2026 violative of Article 21 of the Constitution of India; d) Direct Respondent Nos. 6 to publish appropriate corrections and clarifications with equal prominence in respect of the impugned telecasts, publications, digital content and social media posts and compensate the petitioner for damage caused to their reputation and standing in the society e) Issue a writ of Mandamus directing the jurisdictional Police/Investigating officer to complete the investigation in Crime Nos.211/2026 and 215/2026 expeditiously and in accordance with law and to take the investigation to its logical conclusion, without being influenced by the impugned telecasts, publications, digital content or social media dissemination concerning the alleged incidents; f) Grant such other order or direction as this Hon'ble Court deems fit in the interests of justice and equity. 3. 3. Though a mandamus has been sought for against respondents No.1 to 3, Sri.S.Rajashekhar, learned counsel and learned AGA submit that no representation itself which has been submitted to either respondent No.1 and 2 on one hand or respondent No. 3 on the other. In that view of the matter, mandamus cannot be issued when there is no representation itself which has been submitted. - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010610332026 NC: 2026:KHC:47086 WP No. 27336 of 2026 4. Though learned counsel for the petitioner insists for a interim order as against respondent No.6 to stop, remove and withdraw the telecast digital content and social media post, said Respondent No. 6 is a private TV news agency, a mandamus of that kind cannot be issued against respondent No.6 who is a private party. It would always be available to the petitioner to file appropriate proceedings seeking for such reliefs. 5. The decision which has been relied upon by learned counsel for the petitioner of the Hon'ble High Court of Delhi in TV Toady Network Ltd., -v- ABC & Others [LPA No. 264 of 2013 and C.M. Appeal No.6818 of 2013 dated 01.07.2026] would not be applicable inasmuch as in that case, the identity of victim of sexual offence having been disclosed, a writ petition has been filed invoking Section 228 of the IPC, which prohibits the disclosure of the name of a victim of sexual offence. The present case is one - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010610332026 NC: 2026:KHC:47086 WP No. 27336 of 2026 where the petitioner is complaining of defamation and if that be so, it would not come within purview of Section 228 making the decision applicable. 6. Reserving the above rights, the petition stands disposed. Sd/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE LN List No.: 3 Sl No.: 1