Kantara row: Karnataka High Court to hear Ranveer Singh’s plea to quash FIR over alleged religious mockery

Following this, the bench directed that the matter be posted for hearing on Tuesday.

Advocate Prashanth Methal had filed a private complaint before the 1st Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Court, alleging that Ranveer Singh hurt his religious sentiments by mocking a sacred daiva tradition at a public event.

As per the court’s direction, the complaint was directed to the High Grounds police, who registered an FIR against the actor under sections 196 (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 299 (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and 302 (Uttering words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings of any person) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The complainant alleged that Singh “mocked the sacred Daiva tradition” and verbally referred to Chavundi Daiva as a “female ghost”. He even claimed that Singh was aware that his actions on an international platform would hurt devotees’ religious sentiments, given his popularity worldwide.

Ranveer Singh later issued a public apology and assured that he would refrain from making such remarks or performing in the future.

The petition by way of interim relief seeks to stay all further proceedings in the case.