Mumbai/Bengaluru, Jan 29: A criminal case has been registered against actor Ranveer Singh in Bengaluru following allegations that he insulted the cultural and religious traditions of Karnataka during a film festival in Goa. The complaint suggests that the actor’s stage performance at the International Film Festival of India was disrespectful toward the Bhoota Kola rituals.
The FIR was filed by the High Grounds police under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including those related to insulting religious beliefs. This legal move came after Prashanth Methal, a 46-year-old lawyer, approached the ACJM court with a private complaint regarding the actor’s conduct.
The incident reportedly took place on November 28 last year. The complainant mentioned that Singh imitated the divine expressions of revered spirits in a comical manner and incorrectly labeled the deity Chavundi Daiva as a ghost.
“The accused, being a widely followed public figure, performed the act on an international platform with knowledge that it would hurt religious sentiments,” Methal said in his statement to the authorities. He noted that the deity is a family guardian and that the actor’s portrayal was a serious insult to his faith.
The legal document further mentioned that Singh went ahead with the performance even after being requested to refrain from doing so. The complainant added that the sacred traditions of the coastal region were treated with a lack of sensitivity on a global stage.
The investigation is currently ongoing as police examine the viral video evidence mentioned in the complaint. Authorities have noted that the actor is being booked for acts that allegedly caused anger and resentment among the community of devotees who worship these guardian spirits.
