Bengaluru, July 11 -- 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 int...