- By Aarushi Raina
- Mon, 05 May 2025 06:22 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Singer Sonu Nigam has landed into legal trouble surrounding his Bengaluru concert controversy. The incident erupted after a fan from the audience wanted him to sing Kannada songs, Sonu lashed out at him and compared it to the Pahalgam terror attack. His remark didn't sit well with netizens, especially with the Kannadiga community. An FIR has been filed against the singer and he has been summoned by the Bengaluru Police. After this, he issued a statement to address Kannadigas.
Sonu Nigam summoned by Bengaluru Police
The Bengaluru District Police issued a notice on Monday, May 5 to the playback singer Sonu Nigam, asking him to present himself to the investigating officer within a week. This comes after a First Information Report(FIR) was registered against Nigam on May 3 at Avalahalli Police Station in Bengaluru Rural District for making inappropriate remarks about the Kannadiga community during his latest concert in Bengaluru. The complaint was lodged by Dharmaraj A, president of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike's Bengaluru district unit. The police registered the case under IPC Sections 351(2), 352(1), and 353, as per The Times Of India report.
The complaint accuses Sonu Nigam of making "objectionable and emotionally provocative" statements, which offended the Kannadiga community's sentiments and fostered hatred amongst Karnataka's linguistic groups.
Sonu Nigam Shares Note For People Of Karnataka After Police Summon
After being summoned by the Bengaluru Police, Sonu shared a long statement addressing Kannadigas community. He took to his Instagram handle and wrote, "Namaskara'. I have given unprecedented love to the language, the culture, the music, the musicians, the state and the people not just when I am in Karnataka but anywhere else in the world. Infact I have revered my Kannada songs way more than my songs in other languages including Hindi. There are 100s of videos circulating on social media as a testimony. I have more than hour of Kannada songs that I prepare for every concert when in Karnataka."
Revealing that he will not take humiliation and disrespect from anyone. He stated, "However, 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. That too right after my first song of the concert! He provoked a few more. Their own people were embarrassed and were asking them to shut up.."
On his reaction towards the song demand, the singer shared, "I told them very politely and lovingly the show has just started, it's my first song and that I will not let them down, but they have to let me continue with the concert the way I have planned. Every artiste has a song list prepared so the musicians and technicians are in sync. But they were hell bent on creating ruckus and threatening me wildly. Tell me who is at fault?"
Clarifying his remark about Pahalgam terror attack, Nigam continued, "Being a patriot that I am, I loathe anyone trying to create hate in the name of language, caste or religion especially after what transpired in Pahalgam. I had to school them, and I did, and thousands of students and teachers cheered me for it. The matter got over and I sang Kannada for more than an hour. It's all there on social media.
View this post on Instagram
He concluded his statement by leaving the decision to the people of Karnataka to decide who is at fault. His note read, " I will accept your verdict gracefully. I fully respect and trust the law agencies and Police of Karnataka and will comply with whatever is expected from me. I have received divine love from Karnataka and will cherish it always with no malice whatsoever irrespective of your verdict."
Sonu Nigam Bengaluru Concert Controversy
The controversy escalated when a video of Sonu Nigam lashing out at a young boy went viral. The incident took place at East Point College of Engineering and Technology in Virgonagar, Bengaluru, where the singer performed on April 25 and 26. Amid the demand for songs, a fan requested him to sing a Kannada song, Nigam halted the show in the middle and addressed this by saying "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 was so rudely threatening me, 'Kannada, Kannada'. 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. I love Kannadigas, I love you guys." His reaction outraged debate online.
