FIR against singer Sonu Nigam for ‘insulting’ people of Karnataka

The Avalahalli police have registered an FIR against singer Sonu Nigam after a complaint was registered alleging that he insulted the people of Karnataka.

The Avalahalli police have registered an FIR against singer Sonu Nigam after a complaint was registered alleging that he insulted the people of Karnataka.

Based on the complaint filed by Dharma Raj, member of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, the police charged Mr. Nigam with criminal intimidation, public mischief, and intentional insult to provoke breach of peace on Saturday.

According to the complaint, Mr. Nigam was performing on the outskirts of the city on April 25. One of the fans requested him to sing a Kannada song to which he took offence, and retorted that this was the attitude that resulted in the Pahalgam attack. “This is why the Pahalgam attack happened. For such kind of an attitude. At least see who is in front of you before making such demands. I didn’t like it (the way he asked),” he said, adding that he has immense respect and love towards Kannadigas.

The complainant has alleged that this incident has caused deep anguish among his local fans who felt insulted and offended by his behaviour. This act also leads to hatred among different communities as the incident recorded went viral on social media, the complaint stated.

The police are now seeking the details of the incident and will summon the organisers for questioning.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nigam responded to the controversy on Saturday and said he was “threatened by four to five thugs” at the concert. “People in the crowd even told them to not disturb the concert. Others asked me in a polite manner,” he said in a video on his Instagram account.

The singer said that the few men began demanding Kannada songs right from the beginning. “My show hadn’t even started and these guys looked at me in a rude manner and demanded that I sing Kannada songs. No artist should allow his/her audience to threaten him or her,” he said.