Karnataka High Court Stays Filing Of Final Report In Case Against Sonu Nigam For Alleged Objectionable Remarks When Asked To Sing Kannada Songs

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday by way of an interim order, stayed the filing of a final report in a criminal case registered against singer Sonu Nigam, who is accused of allegedly making an objectionable statement in a music concert held in Bengaluru when a group of audience members demanded he sing Kannada songs.

A vacation bench of Justice Shivashankar Amarannavar, issued notice to the respondents directing them to file their statement of objections and said, “Till the next date of hearing filing of final report is stayed, there shall be no coercive steps against the petitioner, if he cooperates with investigation.”

Further, the court permitted Nigam to record his statement with the police through video-conference and if the investigating officer wnats to record the statement physically, then the singer has to bear the expenses of the IO to record the statement at his place.

Nigam was charged under BNS Sections 351(2)(criminal intimidation),352(1) (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace),353 (Statements conducing to public mischief). He approached the court seeking to quash the FIR.

Counsel for the petitioner argued that the sole statement made by the petitioner did not lead to any mischief. After the statement, the programme went on.

On a query about whether the complainant was present at the time of the incident. The counsel replied, saying, “He (complainant) is not present personally there, complaint says it has been reported.”

Additional State Public Prosecutor B N Jagadeesha opposed the plea, submitting that the programme was live and videos have been circulated on Instagram. He cited that yesterday, the Madhya Pradesh High Court took suo-motu cognisance against a Minister for making comments on Col. Sophiya Qureshi. Today, the Supreme Court has refused to grant any relief.

Further, it was argued that the police have issued a notice to the petitioner through email and registered post and he has not cooperated with the investigation. It was also pointed out that there was no whisper made in the petitioner about the notice having been issued to him. The prosecutor though submitted that they will not take any further coercive steps if the petitioner cooperates with investigation.

Following this, the court recorded the submissions and passed the interim order.

Later, the counsel for the petitioner prayed that the statement of petitioner be sent to the police through post. It was said “Let the petitioner make the statement by post. He is a celebrity and if he comes to the city there will be tamasha.”

However, the prosecutor opposed the same and said let him appear before the IO. The court agreed to it by saying that “He is not a common man and gave the option to the police to record his statement either through video conference or if personally at his place, the expenses be borne by the petitioner.

Case Title: Sonu Nigam AND State of Karnataka

Case No: Criminal Petition 6616/2025

Appearance: Sr Adv Dhananjay Joshi for Adv Kavitha Damodaran for petitioner

ASPP B N Jagadeesha for R1.