Karnataka High Court to hear on May 15 Sonu Nigam's plea seeking quashing of criminal case over Kannada remark

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday posted to May 15 the petition filed by singer Sonu Nigam with a prayer to quash the crime registered against him for allegedly making certain objectionable statement during a music concert in Bengaluru.

A vacation bench presided over by Justice Shivashankar Amarannavar directed the matter to be posted to Thursday to enable the petitioner to rectify certain office objections raised by the registry.

The Bollywood singer has challenged the FIR registered after he allegedly made certain objectionable statements when a group of audience demanded he sing Kannada songs during a concert. It is claimed that the singer equated the demand to sing a Kannada song with the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

The complaint was filed by one Dharma Raj Ananthaiah at the Avalahalli police station in Bengaluru city. The FIR was registered on May 3 for offences under BNS Sections 351(2) (criminal intimidation), 352(1) (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), and 353 (statements conducing to public mischief).

According to the complainant, the singer's statements not only hurt the sentiments but also caused severe distress to the Kannadigas. The complainant claimed that by equating a simple request for singing a Kannada song with the Pahalgam terrorist attack, Sonu Nigam has portrayed the entire Kannadigas as intolerant or violent, contrary to their peace-loving and harmonious nature.