A day after an FIR was lodged against Bollywood playback singer Sonu Nigam, the Bengaluru police are preparing to serve him a notice summoning him for questioning. The complaint stems from a controversial comment Nigam made during a concert at East Point College of Engineering, allegedly equating a Kannada song request with a terror attack in Pahalgam.

The FIR, registered by Dharmaraj A, district president of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, accuses Nigam of insulting the Kannadiga community. The singer has been charged under Sections 351(1), 352, and 353 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for criminal intimidation, provocation, and public mischief.

According to the complaint, Nigam responded to a student’s request to sing in Kannada by saying, “Kannada, Kannada, Kannada—this is why the Pahalgam incident happened.” The remark sparked outrage, with activists demanding his immediate arrest, claiming the statement demeaned Kannada culture and implied regional intolerance.

TA Narayana Gowda, state president of the outfit, expressed disappointment, saying, “Kannadigas have loved him like one of their own. He should have shown sensitivity, not contempt.”

In response, Sonu Nigam issued a clarification on social media, stating he was threatened by a few boys in an aggressive tone. “I’ve sung more Kannada songs than the age of those boys. I respect Karnataka and its people,” he said, clarifying his intent wasn’t to offend but to call out intimidation tactics

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