According to reports, Nigam refused the request and expressed displeasure about the rude way in which the request was made.
Karnataka: Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam has approached the Karnataka High Court with a plea to cancel a criminal case filed against him for allegedly making a remark that hurt the sentiments of the Kannadiga community. The issue started after a music concert held last month at a college in Bengaluru.
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The incident took place in April at East Point College of Engineering and Technology in Bengaluru. During his live performance, some audience members requested Sonu Nigam to sing a Kannada song.
According to reports, Nigam refused the request and expressed displeasure about the rude way in which the request was made.
In response, he reportedly said:
“This is the reason Pahalgam happened.”
The comment quickly went viral on social media and sparked anger among several Kannada language supporters. While Nigam clarified that he respects the Kannadiga people, his words were seen by some as disrespectful and insensitive.
Nigam also said during the concert:
“I loved Kannadigas and had a lot of respect for them.”
However, he added that he took offence to the tone of the request and felt it was inappropriate.
A complaint was filed on May 2 by T.A. Dharmaraj, who is the Bangalore City District Unit President of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Narayana Gowda faction). This is a pro-Kannada organisation known for taking strong stands in favour of the Kannada language and culture.
Following the complaint, the Avalahalli police registered a criminal case on May 3 under the following sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023:
- Section 351(2) – Criminal intimidation
- Section 352(1) – Insult with intent to provoke breach of peace
- Section 353 – Statements leading to public mischief
In response to the FIR, Sonu Nigam filed a petition before the Karnataka High Court seeking to quash the case. The matter came up for hearing before Justice Shivashankar Amarannavar, who is handling vacation bench matters. However, the court did not pass any orders and adjourned the hearing to a later date.
After the backlash, Nigam released public statements expressing regret over his comments. He apologised for hurting anyone’s sentiments, saying he did not mean to offend anyone from the Kannadiga community.
