Congress Leader K.C. Venugopal Files Defamation Case Over Alleged False Claims by Haryana Man

Alappuzha: Congress leader K.C. Venugopal has approached a local court in Kerala, accusing a Haryana based individual of spreading false and politically motivated claims intended to damage his public image before the upcoming Assembly elections.

The complaint, lodged before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Alappuzha, names Gaurav Kumar as the accused. According to a party statement issued on Sunday, the senior Congress leader contended that the allegations were not only baseless but also strategically timed to influence the electoral atmosphere.

Venugopal, who represents Alappuzha in Parliament and serves as AICC general secretary, argued that the accusations relate to the 2024 Haryana Assembly polls but surfaced only recently, raising serious questions about their credibility and intent.

He further alleged that the claims were aggressively circulated through press briefings, media platforms, and social media channels to amplify their impact. Prior to initiating legal proceedings, Venugopal had reportedly submitted a formal complaint to the state police chief on February 23, 2026.

Describing the episode as a “well orchestrated conspiracy,” the Congress leader claimed the objective was to undermine his reputation and hinder the prospects of the United Democratic Front (UDF) in the April 9 elections.

The case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita after the accused allegedly failed to respond to a legal notice or retract the statements.

The development comes amid a separate investigation by Delhi Police into a “ticket-for-money” allegation involving individuals purportedly linked to the Congress. Authorities stated that the probe is ongoing, focusing on financial transactions, including bank records and cash exchanges, to ascertain the veracity of the claims.