Bengaluru: A protest by pro-Kannada activists at Jollywood Studios and Adventures, the set of the Kannada reality show Bigg Boss in Bidadi, ended in detentions on Thursday after demonstrators accused Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and the district administration of bending environmental norms to favour the high-profile studio.
Protest over unsealing of the studio
The demonstration follows the controversial unsealing of the studio, which the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) had earlier ordered to close due to various environmental violations, including operating without mandatory consents under the Water and Air Acts.
Led by organisations such as the Kasturi Kannada Janapara Vedike, protest leaders T Neelesh Gowda and Narasimhamurthy staged a sit-in outside the Bidadi-based park. Activists chanted slogans and some, including women protesters, attempted to climb the main gate to enter the premises. Police intervened and detained several demonstrators to maintain order.
Allegations of unequal treatment
Protesters questioned the speed with which the studio’s lock was cleared, contrasting it with the strict enforcement against over 150 factories still closed for similar non-compliance.
“The deputy commissioner had earlier acted decisively to send the Bigg Boss contestants out, even on a government holiday, to enforce the KSPCB order. The same district administration has now yielded to the deputy chief minister, allegedly pushing the rules aside for the studio. Why is there one justice for a TV show and another for factories that employ thousands of people?” said Narasimhamurthy.
He also alleged that the DCM’s office acted under external pressure, claiming that the unsealing followed an intervention from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, who reportedly contacted Shivakumar regarding the closure.
Environmental violations and KSPCB stance
Jollywood Park, owned by Vels Studios and Entertainment Limited, a Tamil Nadu-based company, was originally sealed after KSPCB inspections highlighted serious violations. These included the absence of a functioning Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and improper waste management, posing a threat to the local ecosystem.
Despite the studio resuming operations to continue the three-month-long reality show, local industries remain closed, fuelling protests and public condemnation.
A KSPCB official noted that the board’s closure order remains in force. “It is a unit established without even obtaining consent. Since the matter is sub judice, it is not appropriate to comment further,” the official said, speaking anonymously.
Conclusion
The Bidadi protest underscores growing public concerns over selective enforcement of environmental norms and perceived political influence in regulatory decisions. As the Bigg Boss studio continues operations amid ongoing legal scrutiny, activists and environmental groups remain vocal about equal treatment for industries and protection of local ecosystems.