Bengaluru: The State High Court has refused to quash a case registered against actor Chetan for criticising Director Rishab Shetty’s film Kantara, which is running successfully across the country.
Earlier in an interview, Director Rishab Shetty had said that Bhootakola belongs to the Hindu culture. In response, Chetan had said, “The Bahujan traditions of our Pambada/Nalike/Paravas date back before Hinduism of Vedic Brahmanism. We ask that indigenous cultures should be shown on screen or beyond with facts,” he said. There was strong condemnation and opposition to the statement across the State.
Rishab’s father Bhaskar Shetty, devotees, deity dancers and fans of Rishab Shetty had expressed their anger against Chetan. They challenged him to come to Mangaluruand make such a statement.
Sheshadripuram Police had registered an FIR under Section 505 (2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on the basis of a complaint lodged by Shivakumar, a resident of Bengaluru. The complainant has alleged that Chetan made derogatory remarks while commenting on the Bhootakola tradition depicted in Kantara. Chetan had approached the High Court seeking quashing of the case. The High Court was hearing on Thursday December 8 under Section 505 (2) of the Indian Penal Code on whether the statements made by actor Chetan Kumar were an offence or not.
The first respondent cannot say that the police will mechanically file the chargesheet without proper investigation. Applicants will always be at liberty to approach the appropriate court to get the required bail. And it will be considered by the court concerned as per law,” Justice M I Arun noted in his order.
Reacting to this in Udupi earlier, Kumara Pambada, a senior devotee of the deity, said, “Whenever there is an insult to the culture, we pray before the deity. We pray in front of the deities we serve. We pray in front of the Panjurli deity of our original worship.”
