A case has been filed against actor Vijay Deverakonda under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for allegedly making insensitive comments about the tribal community following the Pahalgam terror attack, as reported by PTI.
According to a police official, the remarks were made in April during the pre-release event of the movie Retro, starring actor Surya. However, the complaint was formally registered on June 17, based on a petition filed by Nenavath Ashok Kumar Naik, also known as Ashok Rathod, state president of the Joint Action Committee of Tribal Communities.
Rathod alleged that Deverakonda’s statements were racially insensitive, deeply offended tribal sentiments, and amounted to a violation of their dignity. The complaint claims that the actor’s public comments perpetuated harmful stereotypes, hurting the collective morale of tribal communities.
In response to the backlash, Vijay Deverakonda issued a public apology, stating:
“If any part of my message was misunderstood or hurtful, I express my sincere regret. My intention was only to promote peace, progress, and unity. I remain committed to using my platform to uplift and unify—not divide.”
The incident has reignited debates around public accountability of celebrities, especially when addressing sensitive social and cultural issues in India’s diverse landscape.