Karnataka High Court Halts Action Against Singer Sonu Nigam Amid Controversy
The Karnataka High Court has granted interim relief to singer Sonu Nigam, preventing any punitive actions against him until the next hearing. This decision comes amid a controversy stemming from his remarks during a musical event in Bengaluru, where he faced backlash for linking a request to sing in Kannada to a terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Following significant public outcry and a formal complaint, legal proceedings were initiated against him. Sonu has since expressed regret for his comments, but the legal battle continues as he seeks to dismiss the case. Read on for more details about this unfolding situation.
May 15, 2025, 19:36 IST
Court Grants Interim Relief to Sonu Nigam
The Karnataka High Court has ruled that no punitive measures will be taken against singer Sonu Nigam until the next hearing. The court has also placed a hold on the submission of the final report in the case. Additional State Public Prosecutor B.N. Jagadish informed the court that if Sonu Nigam cooperates with the ongoing police investigation, "no punitive action" will be initiated. This decision comes as a significant interim relief for the singer amidst the legal proceedings.
Background of the Controversy
The controversy stems from an incident that occurred on April 25 during a musical event at an engineering college in Bengaluru. During the event, several attendees requested Sonu to sing in Kannada. Reports indicate that Sonu objected to the manner of the requests and accused some students of threatening him. He allegedly made a controversial remark linking the request to a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, stating, "Kannada, Kannada, Kannada. This is why Pahalgam happened.
Public Backlash and Legal Action
This comment went viral on social media, leading to significant backlash against Sonu. On May 2, T.A. Dharmaraj, president of the Bengaluru city unit of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Narayan Gowda faction), filed a complaint regarding the remark. Based on this complaint, the Avalahalli police registered a case on May 3 under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 351(2) (criminal intimidation), Section 352(1) (intent to provoke breach of peace), and Section 353 (statements likely to incite public mischief). Following the intense criticism, Sonu issued a public statement expressing regret for his comments and apologized. However, legal proceedings against him continued, prompting him to file a petition seeking the dismissal of the criminal case.