Bengaluru Police Issue Notice To Sonu Nigam Over Controversial Kannada Remark At His Concert

Bengaluru District Police have issued a notice to singer Sonu Nigam, requiring him to appear before the investigating officer within a week.

Sonu Nigam issued notice by Bengaluru Police following possible ban from Kannada industry.

Source : Instagram

Bengaluru District Police have issued a notice to singer Sonu Nigam, requiring him to appear before the investigating officer within a week. This action follows an FIR registered against him at the Avalahalli Police Station in Bengaluru Rural District, based on a complaint filed by the KRV.

 

Sonu Nigam to be banned from Kannada industry?

The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) is expected to take strict action against singer Sonu Nigam, with a possible ban from Kannada cinema, following his controversial remarks about the Kannada language. The decision is likely to be taken during an emergency meeting scheduled for Monday.

The controversy erupted on Saturday during a concert at East Point College of Engineering in Bengaluru. When a boy from the audience reportedly requested a Kannada song, Sonu Nigam reacted sharply, saying, "Kannada... Kannada... this is the reason behind the incident in Pahalgam." His comment quickly went viral, sparking outrage on social media, especially across Karnataka.

Nigam's statement has drawn widespread criticism, with many accusing him of showing disrespect toward the Kannada language and hurting the sentiments of the Kannadiga community.

In response, A. Dharmaraj, President of the Bengaluru City District Unit of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, lodged a formal complaint at the Avalahalli Police Station. The complaint accuses Nigam of making remarks that deeply offended the Kannada community, incited linguistic tensions, and had the potential to provoke unrest.

FIR against Sonu Nigam

The Karnataka Police filed an FIR against renowned singer Sonu Nigam following a controversy surrounding his remarks, in which he linked a demand for a Kannada song to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

Several Kannada organisations expressed outrage over his comments, calling for an unconditional apology on Friday and subsequently lodging a police complaint.

The FIR was filed at the Avalahalli Police Station in Bengaluru under Sections 351(2) (criminal intimidation), 352 (statements inciting public mischief), and 352(1) (intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace or incite another offence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act.

What happened at Sonu Nigam's Bengaluru concert?

The incident took place on May 1 at East Point College of Engineering and Technology in Bengaluru. During a musical event, Sonu Nigam paused his performance after noticing a member of the audience repeatedly demanding a Kannada song.

Nigam then made a contentious remark, saying: “I have sung in different languages. Among them, the best songs are in Kannada. Whenever I come to Karnataka, I come with a lot of love and respect. You all have treated me like family.
I always sing Kannada songs when requested. I have been singing in Kannada longer than that youth’s age. But I didn’t like the way he shouted ‘Kannada, Kannada’. It is because of such behaviour that incidents like the Pahalgam attack happen.”

The following day, his comments faced intense backlash from Kannada groups.

These organisations questioned the connection drawn between a song request and a terror attack and condemned the statement. Some have even demanded a ban on Sonu Nigam and urged the police to file a suo motu case.

According to the complaint, Sonu Nigam insulted Kannadigas and incited hostility between linguistic communities.

It further stated that he made “objectionable and emotionally provocative statements during a musical event held on April 25 and 26 at East Point College of Engineering and Technology in Bengaluru.”

The complaint also noted: “His statements have deeply hurt the sentiments of the Kannadiga community, incited hatred among various linguistic communities in Karnataka, and are likely to provoke violence. A video of Sonu Nigam’s statement has gone viral, causing widespread outrage among millions of Kannadigas across the state.”

Labeling his remarks as “objectionable, divisive, and harmful to communal harmony,” the complaint cited violations under BNS Sections 352(1), 351(2), and 353.

It added: “By mocking a request for a Kannada song and linking it to a terrorist attack, Sonu Nigam's statements outraged the linguistic sentiments of the Kannadiga community, which takes immense pride in its language and culture. This act has disrupted public harmony and insulted the dignity of Kannadigas.”

The complaint further charged: “Sonu Nigam's statements have caused severe distress to the Kannadiga community. By equating a simple cultural request to sing a Kannada song with a terrorist act, he has portrayed Kannadigas as intolerant or violent, which is contrary to their peace-loving and harmonious nature."

It further added, "His statement risks sparking linguistic unrest in Karnataka, a state known for its diversity. Coming from a public figure like Sonu Nigam, who has a vast following, such statements create a negative perception of Kannadigas and foster division among communities, endangering communal harmony.”