Bengaluru, July 11 (Reporter) In a significant relief to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the Karnataka High Court today stayed trial court proceedings in a criminal defamation case filed by the BJP over the Congress’ controversial “corruption rate card' advertisements released during the 2023 Assembly election campaign. Justice SR Krishna Kumar, while hearing the matter, issued notice to the respondents and granted an interim stay on the trial pending before the lower court. Advocate general Shashi Kiran Shetty, appearing for the Chief Minister, argued that the case was similar to those involving other Congress leaders. On July 4, the High Court had stayed proceedings against Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar in the same case. Similar interim relief has also been granted earlier this year to Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The BJP’s complaint stems from advertisements published in local newspapers by the KPCC, which accused the previous BJP government of levying “rates and commissions” for postings and transfers in government departments. The BJP termed the charges false and damaging to its public image, claiming they were products of the Congress’ "fanciful imagination". The party further alleged that phrases like “trouble engine Sarkar” — a twist on BJP’s popular slogan “double engine Sarkar” — were deliberately crafted to malign the party and influence voters. The criminal defamation trial had been initiated in 2023 after the trial court took cognizance of the BJP’s complaint. Today’s stay halts proceedings against Siddaramaiah in Criminal Petition No. 9760/2025 until further notice...////...