Karnataka HC to hear tomorrow Sonu Nigam’s plea seeking to quash case over his remarks at Bengaluru concert

A controversy had erupted over the singer’s remarks at a concert in Bengaluru on April 25 at the East Point College of Engineering, where some people in the audience insisted that he sing in Kannada, allegedly prompting the singer to draw a reference to the recent terrorist attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam.

The Bengaluru police had also summoned him for questioning with regard to the incident. C K Baba, Superintendent of Police, Bengaluru Rural, earlier said that given the seriousness of the matter, “an inspector has been assigned to investigate the case thoroughly.” The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce also stated that Nigam would be barred from Kannada films until he issued an unconditional apology.

Nigam later posted a clarification, stating that his remarks were only directed at a few persons in the audience, and that he later sang Kannada songs for over an hour. He noted in his statement, “…I am not a young lad to take humiliation from anyone. I am 51 years old, in the second half of my life and am entitled to take offence for someone as young as my son threatening me directly in front of thousands in the name of language that too Kannada which is my second language when it comes to my work.”

The singer also posted an apology, stating that his love for Karnataka was bigger than his ego.