The Bengaluru District Police has issued a formal notice to playback singer Sonu Nigam, asking him to appear before the investigating officer within a week. This comes after a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against the singer at the Avalahalli Police Station in Bengaluru Rural District.

Who filed the complaint and why?

The FIR was lodged following a complaint by Dharmaraj A, president of the Bengaluru City District Unit of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, a pro-Kannada organisation. The complaint accuses Nigam of making "objectionable and emotionally provocative statements" during a concert held on April 25 and 26 at East Point College of Engineering and Technology in Virgonagar, Bengaluru.

According to the complaint, Nigam's alleged remarks hurt the sentiments of the Kannadiga community and incited hatred between linguistic groups in Karnataka. “This complaint is lodged against the renowned singer Shri Sonu Nigam for making objectionable and emotionally provocative statements during a musical event… His statements have deeply hurt the sentiments of the Kannadiga community, incited hatred among various linguistic communities in Karnataka, and are likely to provoke violence. A video of Shri Sonu Nigam's statement has gone viral, causing widespread outrage among millions of Kannadigas across the state,” the complaint reads.

What action has been taken by the police?

The police have registered the FIR under Sections 351(2), 352(I), and 353 of the Indian Penal Code. The Bengaluru District Police are now probing the incident and have directed Nigam to appear for questioning. At present, further details of the investigation remain confidential.

What did Sonu Nigam say in his defence?

On May 4, Sonu Nigam responded via Instagram, sharing a video where he addressed the controversy. In the video, he claimed that a small group had disrupted the event by shouting and threatening him to sing in Kannada.

"There were only 4–5 goons who were shouting. In fact, thousands of people were stopping them. I remember the girls were shouting at them, 'Don't disturb the scene.' And it was very important to remind them that no one asked for the language when the pants were taken off in the Pahalgam incident… Kannadigas are very nice people. Don’t think there’s any wave or movement; there are always a few bad people everywhere. I’m sure of it."

He added, "It’s important to stop people who provoke others because it becomes a bigger issue later. In a land of love, if someone is sowing the seeds of hatred, you have to stop them. We will have to cut this crop later. Kannadigas are beautiful people, so please don’t generalise them. There were only 4–5 boys who looked at me with anger. Not even half an hour into the show, after the first song, they started looking at me—not demanding, but threatening."

What is the public reaction?

The controversy has sparked outrage among Kannada cinema personalities and pro-Kannada organisations, many of whom have demanded a public apology from the singer. Members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike staged a protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru, urging action against Nigam.

While many are calling for accountability, some fans have voiced support for the singer, arguing that he has shown respect for Kannada in the past and should be given a chance to apologise rather than be permanently banned.