Renowned playback singer Sonu Nigam is facing legal trouble after an FIR was registered against him at Avalahalli Police Station in Bengaluru, following a controversial comment he made during a live concert on April 27, 2025. The complaint was filed by members of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), a prominent pro-Kannada organization, which accused the singer of making remarks that allegedly insulted the Kannada language and its speakers.
According to CNN-News18, the FIR has been filed under Section 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertains to intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace. The incident came to light after a video from the concert went viral on social media, drawing widespread backlash from Kannada-speaking citizens.
The Controversial Remark
The uproar began when Nigam responded sharply to a concertgoer who aggressively demanded a Kannada song. The singer, visibly upset, said:
“Mujhe accha nahi laga… He was so rudely threatening me, ‘Kannada, Kannada’. Yahi kaaran hai, Pahalgam mein jo hua hai na? Yahi kaaran hai jo kiya tha na abhi?”
He then attempted to clarify his love for the Kannada language and Kannadiga people, emphasizing that he often sings Kannada songs out of respect, but added that such behavior was unacceptable.
The reference to Pahalgam, an area associated with terror attacks, in the context of a linguistic demand, has sparked outrage, with critics accusing Nigam of equating Kannada language activism with terrorism.
Reaction from Kannada Groups
Dharmaraj Gowda, KRV’s Bengaluru district president, told News18:
“His statements have hurt the sentiments of the Kannadiga community and could incite violence between linguistic groups. The video has gone viral, and crores of Kannadigas are outraged.”
The formal complaint by KRV also alleges that Nigam’s words were an attempt to incite enmity between different linguistic communities, a serious charge under Indian law.
Legal and Public Repercussions
While Sonu Nigam has not issued a detailed public apology or clarification yet, the incident has prompted significant discussion about celebrity accountability, cultural sensitivity, and the volatile nature of linguistic politics in India—especially in states like Karnataka, where the preservation of the regional language and identity is a sensitive issue.
