Karnataka High Court restrains police from taking coercive action against singer Sonu Nigam

High Court of Karnataka restrains Bengaluru police from coercive action against Sonu Nigam, permits video statement for investigation.

The High Court of Karnataka on Thursday (May 15, 2025) restrained the Bengaluru city police from taking any coercive step against singer Sonu Nigam if he cooperates, and from submitting final report of investigation on the first information report (FIR) registered against him on a complaint that he allegedly made an objectionable statement during a music concert at an engineering college when a few individuals in the audience demanded that he sing Kannada songs.

Also, the Court permitted Mr. Nigam to appear through video conference if the police want to record his statement as part of the investigation. However, the singer has to cooperate for the probe, the Court said.

Justice Shivashankar Amarannavar passed the interim order on the petition filed by Mr. Nigam, who had challenged the legality of registration of the FIR by the Avalahalli police on May 3 based on a complaint lodged by Dharma Raj Ananthaiah, a Kannada activist, relying on media reports about the incident.

The FIR was registered for the offences under Sections 351(2) (criminal intimidation), 352(1) (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), and 353 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the BNS.

Orally observing that the event, in which the singer had made the alleged statements, is available in public domain as the event was aired live on social media platform, the Court said that if the Investigation Officer wants to record the singer’s statement physically, then the IO has has to go to Mr. Nigam’s place (Mumbai) at the expenses of the latter.

Earlier, the advocate representing Mr. Nigam pointed out that averments in the complaint has no material to invoke the provisions of the BNS as the event had continued and concluded peacefully after the initial hurdle when a member of audience demanded Kannada songs. It was also pointed out that singer had no intention to create any trouble or breach of peace.

Meanwhile, Additional State Public Prosecutor representing the police told the Court that the police will not take any coercive step against the singer but the singer will have to appear before the IO for recording his statement while pointing out that Mr. Nigam did not respond to the email and the communication sent through the registered post. It was insisted on behalf of the police that Mr. Nigam should physically appear before IO for recording his statement but the court did not accepted this request.