'Kantara' Mimicry Row: Actor Ranveer Singh Submits Revised Affidavit Before Karnataka High Court Expressing 'Unconditional Apology'

Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh submitted a revised affidavit before the Karnataka High Court on Saturday (April 25), expressing his unconditional apology over his mimicry of a character in the 'Kantara: Chapter 1' during an event last year. 

Taking note of the affidavit, the court orally indicated that it will be disposing of the matter. 

The court was hearing the actor's plea to quash an FIR registered against him over his mimicry of a character in the 'Kantara: Chapter 1' movie during the 56th IFFI Festival of India organised by the Government of Goa last year. In the event the petitioner is stated to have mimicked the role of actor Rishab Shetty in the movie and referred to the Chamundeshwari temple deity as 'female ghost'.

At the outset, senior advocate Sajan Poovayya appearing for Singh submitted before Justice M. Nagaprasanna that the actor had filed an 'unconditional affidavit'.

"I have filed an affidavit which is now unconditional...Please see the last paragraph, I have undertaken that I will go to the temple..." Poovayya said. 

The complainant Prashant Methel however submitted that for the Petitioner's side "its just a case. For us, it's an entire belief system". To this the court orally said that was the reason it had not stayed the FIR till today and indicated that while disposing off the matter it will record that the actor will visit the temple in the next "four weeks". 

Meanwhile Methel further said that "other celebrities should not take this lightly" and so there "must be a harsh caution" from the court. 

To which the court said, "Admonishing definitely we will do...". Meanwhile Poovayya said that he understands the "sentiments" and that is why he did not argue the matter on merits. 

While concluding the hearing the court orally said that it will pass an order adding, "We will take it as disposed. Recording the affidavit. I'll pass that order. I'm not going to answer it legally". 

For context, on April 10 Singh told the High Court that he would sit with the complainant and work with them on the language of the affidavit of apology. This was submitted after the complainant said that there was no genuine remorse expressed by the actor in the affidavit.

Singh's plea challenged an FIR registered on the complaint of an advocate, under Sections 196(Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 299(Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 302(Uttering words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings of any person) of BNS 2023.

The plea further seeks quashing of a January 23 order passed by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate under Section 175(3) BNSS 2023 directing an investigation into the complaint filed against the actor.

Earlier the high court had while staying coercive steps against the actor, had orally remarked that the actor cannot, by virtue of being a celebrity, hurt religious sentiments of a community and that he must, when making public appearances, remain cautious of his words and actions

Case title: Ranveer Singh v/s State of Karnataka & Anr

Case No: CRL.P 3024/2026