Kantara remark: Karnataka High Court directs police not to take coercive action against actor Ranveer Singh

Karnataka High Court relief for Ranveer Singh from police action over controversial remarks on sacred traditions, pending cooperation with investigation.

In a partial relief to Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh, the High Court of Karnataka on February 24 directed the police not to take coercive steps based on the first information report (FIR) registered against him for allegedly hurting religious sentiments by his act of ‘mocking’ the sacred daiva tradition portrayed in the Kannada film Kantara Chapter 1. 

However, the court directed the actor to cooperate for the probe.

Justice M. Nagaprasanna passed the interim order on the petition filed by the Mr. Singh. 

During the hearing, Senior Advocate Sajan Poovayya, appearing for the actor, said that the remarks though amount to recklessness but was not a deliberate remark intended to hurt anyone’s sentiment, and hence it does not attract criminal prosecution as per the verdicts of courts. Mr. Poovayya said that the actor would cooperate with the probe. 

Meanwhile, the court orally observed that the remark by the actor, certainly a reckless one though may not be deliberate one, while stating that celebrity personalities can’t have a loose tongue and they should do some study before making any remarks as people will be influenced by their remarks. “How can the petitioner make such a remark against a diety,” the court asked..

On the contention that the actor had apologised soon after he realised the mistake, the court said the people may forget but ‘internet will never forget it’.