Karnataka High Court Issues Notice To Rahul Gandhi Over KGF Music Row

A divisional bench of the Karnataka High Court has issued a notice to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the copyright case over use of music from the blockbuster movie KGF in the Bharat Jodo Yatra videos.

As reported by TV9, the petitioner MRT music filed a case of contempt of court case against the party and its leaders for violating the affidavit it had filed where it said that it would take down the tweets with the said videos.

Background

MRT music which holds the rights over the music from the film KGF -2 had gone to to court in November against the official Twitter handles of the Congress.

A complaint had been filed against the Congress party in general and three of its leaders — Jairam Ramesh, Supriya Shrinate and Rahul Gandhi, alleging copyright violation.

A civil court in Bengaluru asked the party to remove links that contained the videos as well as ordered the temporary blocking of the Twitter accounts on 7 November.

Party’s Stand

Congress, initially feigned ignorance saying it had heard of such a suit only through social media.

It has tweeted saying they were ‘neither made aware of nor present at court proceedings, nor recceived any copy of the order.

A day later, the party on 8 Novemeber, appealed against the order in the Karnataka High Court seeking that the blocking of the handle be stayed as ‘the political party's freedom of expression will be affected’.

The court allowed the appeal, but the relief was subject to the party removing the material that offended MRT music’s copyright form its handles.

Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the Congress, submitted as reported, that the 45 second clip would be taken off and that it was ‘inadvertently put up’.

He also sought a stay on the interim order blocking the handle saying it ‘completely paralyses’ the Congress and that it will not help MRT music ‘unless they have any ulterior motives’.