Will the Police Take Action Against Sonu Nigam?

Bengaluru, May 5 (NationPress) The Karnataka Home Minister, G. Parameshwara, announced on Monday that the police will take necessary actions against renowned singer Sonu Nigam for his contentious remarks linking the demand for a Kannada song to the Pahalgam terror attack.
During a press briefing in Bengaluru, Minister Parameshwara declared, “The police will implement appropriate measures against Sonu Nigam for his provocative statements. The involved police personnel, who have filed the case, will undertake the required actions. Any statement from my side will represent the government’s official position.”

The Karnataka Police filed an FIR against Sonu Nigam on Saturday after his comments ignited controversy for allegedly associating a request for a Kannada song with the April 22 terror incident in Pahalgam.

Numerous Kannada organizations expressed their discontent over his statements, demanding an unconditional apology on Friday and subsequently filing a complaint with the authorities.

The Avalahalli Police in Bengaluru registered the FIR under Sections 351(2) (criminal intimidation), 352 (statements inciting public mischief), and 352(1) (intentional insult intended to provoke a breach of peace or incite another offense) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act.

The FIR was lodged based on a complaint by Dharmaraj A., President of the Bengaluru City District Unit of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike.

When questioned about the status of Pakistani nationals in Karnataka, Parameshwara noted, “Nationwide, approximately 500 to 600 Pakistani nationals are being deported. We are also conducting verifications in Karnataka and returning them. The deadline has been extended, and those identified will be expelled. According to official records, 6 to 7 Pakistani nationals are currently residing here, and the verification process is ongoing. This is a continuous effort.”

In response to the increase in threat messages on social media following the murder of Hindu activist Suhas Shetty on May 1 in Mangaluru, Parameshwara indicated, “I have instructed the police to investigate the revenge and threat messages. During my visit to Mangaluru, I urged the police to address the issue. This morning, I directed the ADGP (Law and Order) to take swift action against those disseminating threatening messages online.”

When discussing the controversy surrounding the term 'rowdy sheeter' used for Suhas Shetty, Minister Parameshwara remarked, “Anyone designated as a rowdy in police files can be referred to as such, irrespective of their political connections. If legal cases are filed against them, they are categorized as rowdies under the law. There is no reason to avoid using that terminology.”

Addressing the BJP's claims that filing an FIR against MLA Harish Poonja was a political attack, Parameshwara stated, “I lack detailed knowledge about the alleged politics of animosity. Based on MLA Poonja’s comments, the police would have determined whether his remarks breached any legal statutes and filed the FIR accordingly. An FIR cannot be lodged against an MLA without a valid justification.”

On allegations of suppressing the purported honey trap case involving Minister for Cooperation K.N. Rajanna, Parameshwara clarified, “That is untrue. Once Minister Rajanna’s testimony has been recorded, the investigation will proceed based on the details he provides. We are unaware of the specifics of his statements to the police at this time.”

Lastly, when queried about BJP leader D.V. Sadananda Gowda’s proposal to implement Uttar Pradesh’s bulldozer policy in Karnataka to tackle anti-social elements, Parameshwara simply responded, “I am not informed.”