The Avalahalli police on Monday issued a notice to Sonu Nigam asking him to report to the investigating officer within seven days pertaining to a FIR filed against him for making an objectionable comment during a music concert. The FIR was registered in the Avalahalli police station in the Karnataka rural district on May 3 for allegedly making objectionable comments about the Kannadiga community.
The incident in question occurred at an engineering college in Bengaluru when a group of individuals in the crowd demanded that he sing Kannada songs. According to the singer, despite assurances that the Kannada songs were a part of his performing list, the group continuously levelled threats against him. After subsequent heckling, Sonu had reportedly asserted that, “Kannada. Kannada. This is the reason behind the incident in Pahalgam."
The incident that occurred on stage was recorded and shared through social media. The video led to the singer making an Instagram post stating that, “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 to someone as young as my son threatening me directly in front of thousands in the name of language.”
The FIR was filed by Dharmaraj A, head of the Bengaluru City District Unit of Karnataka Rakshana V, a Kannada advocacy organisation. In wake of his remarks, members of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike also conducted a demonstration at Freedom park in Bengaluru opposing his anti-Kannada remarks.
