Singer Sonu Nigam moves K'taka HC seeking quashing of criminal case over Kannada remark
Bengaluru, May 13 (PTI): Singer Sonu Nigam has approached the Karnataka High Court seeking to quash a criminal case registered against him over alleged offensive remarks made about the Kannadigas during a recent concert in Bengaluru.
The petition was listed before the vacation bench of Justice Shivashankar Amarannavar, who deferred the matter for hearing on a later date.
The controversy stems from an incident that occurred on April 25 at a live concert held at an engineering college in Bengaluru.
During the performance, several members of the audience requested Nigam to sing in Kannada. Reports state that the singer declined the request and expressed displeasure at the manner in which it was made, accusing some attendees of being impolite. Although Nigam affirmed his respect and admiration for Kannadigas, he allegedly drew a controversial parallel by stating, “This is the reason Pahalgam happened,” referencing a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam region.
The statement quickly gained traction on social media and sparked outrage.
On May 2, TA Dharmaraj, president of the Bangalore City District Unit of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Narayana Gowda faction), lodged a complaint over the remark.
Based on this complaint, Avalahalli police registered a case on May 3 under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023—specifically Sections 351(2) (criminal intimidation), 352(1) (insult intended to provoke breach of peace), and 353 (statements likely to incite public mischief).
Following the backlash, Nigam issued public statements expressing regret and apologised for his comments. However, the legal proceedings have continued, prompting the singer to file the present plea for dismissal of the charges.
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Several fall ill after consuming 'kuttu' flour on Mahashivratri in Noida; FIR against shop owner
Noida (PTI): An FIR has been lodged against a shop owner after several people allegedly fell ill after consuming 'kuttu' (buckwheat) flour on the occasion of Mahashivratri in Noida, police said on Tuesday.
The incident came to light after multiple residents of Supertech Ecovillage-3, Royal Court Society and Himalaya Pride Society reported health complications on Sunday after consuming the flour, traditionally eaten during fasts.
According to the police, information was received on Monday from a private hospital within the Bisrakh police station jurisdiction regarding several residents from the three housing societies falling ill.
The police informed the Food Safety Department, following which a complaint was filed and an FIR registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
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A joint team of the Food Department and Bisrakh police conducted inspections at shops located in Supertech Ecovillage-3, Royal Court Society and Himalaya Pride Society and collected samples of buckwheat flour from the outlets.
During the inspection, irregularities were found at Prashant General Store in Royal Court Society, which was subsequently sealed, officials said.
Preliminary inquiry revealed that the affected residents had purchased the buckwheat flour supplied by HD Spices in the Chipiyana village, with its warehouse located in Chipiyana Buzurg.
Acting on the information, the Food Department team inspected the warehouse and sealed it after detecting irregularities. Samples have also been collected from other shops and further action is being taken, officials said.
The police have detained four persons, including the warehouse owner, they added.
