Bengaluru, Jun 3 (PTI): If actor Kamal Haasan wants, we can meet and discuss why we want him to render an unconditional apology, said Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) on Tuesday, post an emergency executive committee meeting.

In a statement issued by KFCC, which reiterated the demand that the actor, director and producer must apologise, it said that it is willing to meet and discuss this with him as decided in the court.

"Since Kamal Haasan has told the Karnataka high court that he will not be releasing the film as planned, that issue has become irrelevant. But we stand by our demand for an apology from him. Further action will be taken as per the order of the court," read the statement.

Haasan had said 'Kannada was born out of Tamil' at a promotional event in Chennai for his upcoming Tamil film 'Thug Life', sparking a backlash in Karnataka, prompting KFCC to announce that the film would not be screened in the state unless Haasan apologised.

Earlier in the day, M Narasimhalu, President of KFCC, also told PTI that as the matter is in court now, KFCC will do what the court tells them to do.

He had also confirmed that KFCC executive committee members would meet once Karnataka High Court issued an order.

Raaj Kamal Films International, helmed by Haasan and one of the producers of 'Thug Life', had filed a petition at Karnataka High Court seeking "protection" on June 2.

When the matter came up for hearing before Justice Nagaprasanna on Tuesday, the counsel for petitioner Raaj Kamal Films International maintained that there was no malice and an apology was not warranted and submitted that the screening of the movie would not be insisted upon in Karnataka till the issue gets resolved through dialogue.

The court posted further hearing of the petition to June 10.

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Pune (PTI): The Porsche car crash case exposed "systemic corruption," but the Pune Police have successfully uncovered the nexus behind the replacement of the accused juvenile's blood samples with those of his mother, Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said on Wednesday.

The case made national headlines after the high-end car allegedly driven by the 17-year-old boy in an inebriated state mowed down motorcycle-borne IT professionals Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Costa in the Kalyani Nagar area on May 19 last year.

"Last year’s Porsche car crash case sparked widespread discussions about Pune’s deteriorating social culture, alleged police corruption, and several other issues. Amid all the criticism, one positive aspect stood out: the case exposed systemic corruption.

"It also demonstrated how the police, working within the same system, managed to uncover the entire nexus behind the replacement of the juvenile’s blood samples with those of his mother," Kumar said while addressing Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, an initiative aimed at raising awareness against drug addiction, organised at Modern College.

He added that the juvenile has been released since he was a minor.

"However, his mother has remained in jail for over a year, and his father continues to be behind bars. Doctors from Sassoon Hospital and others involved are also still in jail," Kumar said, adding that one mistake by a child, and an attempt by his parents to cover it up, destroyed an entire family.

He said the police will follow up on this case until every guilty person is punished.

Kumar also appealed to students to stay away from intoxicating substances and drugs.

"You are not only endangering your own life but also putting your entire family at risk," he said, urging the youth not to fall prey to harmful addictions.

"Instead, stand strong and act as a force to ensure that drug abuse is curbed in your surroundings. We assure you of full police support," he added.

He further stated that if youth from all colleges unite and decide to end this menace, "the day is not far when not even one gram of drug will be sold in the city".

The investigation into the car crash had revealed that the juvenile's blood samples were replaced with those of his mother.

The roles of Dr Ajay Taware, head of the forensic department, Medical Officer Shreehari Halnor, and a hospital staffer came under scrutiny.

While the mother is currently out on bail, the juvenile’s father, Sassoon Hospital doctors Taware and Halnor, staffer Atul Ghatkamble, two middlemen, Ashpak Makandar and Amar Gaikwad, and others remain in jail for the alleged blood sample swap.