National: Bengaluru police are now investigating a formal complaint lodged against renowned singer Sonu Nigam.
The complaint, filed by Dharmaraj A, the President of the Bengaluru city district unit of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), a prominent pro-Kannada organization, alleges that Mr. Nigam made disparaging and provocative statements during a musical performance held on April 25th and 26th at East Point College of Engineering and Technology in Virgonagar, Bengaluru.
According to the complaint, the controversy arose when a student requested Mr. Nigam to sing a Kannada song. In response to this request, Mr. Nigam allegedly made an objectionable statement linking the request to the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where numerous tourists tragically lost their lives. The complainant asserts that by drawing this parallel, Mr. Nigam insulted the Kannadiga community and equated their linguistic pride with violence and intolerance.
The KRV’s complaint further states that a video capturing Mr. Nigam’s alleged remarks has gone viral, sparking widespread outrage among millions of Kannadigas across the state and raising concerns about potential repercussions for Kannadigas residing in other parts of the country. The organization contends that Mr. Nigam’s statements are divisive, harmful to communal harmony, and violate sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, pertaining to promoting enmity, criminal defamation, and outraging linguistic sentiments.
Dharmaraj A has urged the Bengaluru police to register a case against Sonu Nigam under BNS Sections 352(1), 351(2), and 353, demanding a thorough investigation into the incident. The request includes collecting video evidence, recording statements from witnesses present at the event on April 30, 2025, and taking appropriate legal action to ensure justice for the Kannadiga community and prevent future occurrences of such statements.
The aftermath of these alleged remarks has seen a significant outpouring of anger and condemnation from Kannadigas and artists within the Kannada film industry on social media platforms. Pro-Kannada organizations have vociferously demanded a public apology from Sonu Nigam, with some voices even calling for a ban on the singer. However, amidst the calls for strict action, some fans, acknowledging Mr. Nigam’s past expressions of affection for the Kannada language, have suggested granting him an opportunity to apologize instead of imposing a ban.
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