The Bengaluru rural police have summoned singer Sonu Nigam for questioning over a recent comment he made allegedly linking a Kannada song request to the Pahalgam terrorist attack, even as he insisted he was “entitled to take offence for someone as young as my son threatening me directly in front of thousands”.
Son Nigam has been asked to appear next week before the police over the remark made during a concert at a Bengaluru college, officials said on Monday.
C K Baba, Superintendent of Police (Bengaluru Rural), said, “Given the seriousness of the matter, an inspector has been assigned to investigate the case thoroughly.”
The Avalahalli police registered an FIR on Sunday under sections 351(2) (criminal intimidation), 352(1) (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace), and 353 (public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Later Sonu Nigam clarified his comment was directed at a small group—four or five people who he claimed were aggressively shouting “Kannada, Kannada”. He further said his intention was to highlight how, during the Pahalgam attack, victims were targeted based on religion, not language. “Kannadigas are wonderful people. My comment was about a few individuals, not the entire community,” he added.
Sonu Nigam wrote on Instagram on Monday, “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.”
Music composer Ricky Kej supported Sonu Nigam and said the incident was an unfortunate one. “Your love for Kannada and Karnataka is well known beyond any doubt. I have seen numerous shows of yours in Bengaluru and you always perform Kannada songs. So I personally do feel that it was uncalled for the audience member to scream for Kannada music when he should have just been patient. If he was truly a fan of yours, he should have know the Kannada songs are coming. I have known first hand—at times you have refused to record songs in other languages but accepted many Kannada songs.. and not just film songs but even indie songs. Also, on many interviews I have heard you say that Kannada Composers come up with some of your fav melodies. This was just an unfortunate incident,” he said.
