A police complaint was recently lodged against singer Sonu Nigam after he allegedly made 'objectionable' and 'emotionally provocative' statements during a musical event at a college in Bengaluru while mentioning the Pahalgam terror attack.
President of the Bengaluru city district unit of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) which is a pro-Kannada organisation lodged the complaint against Nigam as he alleged that 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, reported ANI.
Sonu Nigam was performing at a musical event held on April 25-26 at East Point College of Engineering and Technology, Virgonagar, Bengaluru where he made the concerned statement.
Since the video clip of the event and his statement went viral on social media, several Kannadigas and Kannada cinema artists expressed concerns about potential attacks on Kannadigas in different parts of the country.
What Did Sonu Nigan Say At The Event?
Sonu Nigam was performing at the Bengaluru college event on April 22 and he was narrating about a young fan who threatened him to sing in Kannada since he is in Karnataka and he continued to state that the Pahalgam terror attack and such similar incidents happened because of such behaviour.
According to a Hindustan Times report, Sonu Nigam said, “Mujhe accha nahi laga ki waha ek ladka jiski umar, jitni uske umar nahi hogi use pehle toh main Kannada gaane garaha hoon (I didn't like the boy whose age, I have been singing Kannada songs before he was born).”
He added, "Yahi kaaran hai, Pahalgam mein jo hua hai na? Yahi kaaran hai jo karrahe ho, jo kiya tha na abhi? Dekho toh kaun saamne khada hai. (This is the reason for what happened in Pahalgam. This is the reason, what you did just now. Look at who is standing in front of you)."
What Does The Complaint Say?
Dharmaraj A, President of the Bengaluru City District Unit of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, submitted the complaint.
According to ANI, the complaint read, "This complaint is lodged against the renowned singer Shri Sonu Nigam for making objectionable and emotionally provocative statements during a musical event held on April 25, 26, at East Point College of Engineering and Technology, Virgonagar, Bengaluru, which falls under your police station's jurisdiction. 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 Shri Sonu Nigam's statement has gone viral, causing widespread outrage among millions of Kannadigas across the state."
"On April 25, 26, during a musical event at East Point College, it is reported that a student requested Sonu Nigam to sing a Kannada song. In response, Nigam made an objectionable statement, saying, "Kannada, Kannada, Kannada, this is exactly why the incident happened in Pahalgam." Не referenced the terrorist attack that occurred in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, where 26 tourists were killed. By linking a simple request to sing a Kannada song to a terrorist act, Nigam insulted the Kannadiga community and equated their cultural pride and linguistic identity with violence and intolerance," it added.
"Shri Sonu Nigam's statements are objectionable, divisive, and harmful to communal harmony. They violate the following sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023."
The complaint further reads, "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, Shri Nigam has portrayed Kannadigas as intolerant or violent, which is contrary to their peace-loving and harmonious nature. His statement risks sparking linguistic unrest in Karnataka, a state known for its diversity. Coming from a public figure like Shri Sonu Nigam, who has a vast following, such statements create a negative perception of Kannadigas and foster division among communities, endangering communal harmony."
"In this regard, I request that a complaint be registered against Shri Sonu Nigam under BNS Sections 352(1), 351(2), and 353 for promoting enmity, criminal defamation, and outraging linguistic sentiments, and that appropriate legal action be taken. I urge you to thoroughly investigate this incident, collect video evidence from the event, and record statements from witnesses present at East Point College on April 30, 2025, to ensure justice for the Kannadiga community and prevent such divisive statements in the future.
"I am ready to fully cooperate during the investigation and provide additional information if required. I kindly request that you take immediate action on this serious offense to safeguard the harmony and unity of our society. Yours faithfully, Dharmaraj A., District President, Bengaluru District, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, Bengaluru."
