'Kantara' Mimicry Row: Ranveer Singh To Revise Apology Affidavit Filed Before Karnataka High Court

Actor Ranveer Singh told the Karnataka High Court on Friday (April 10) that he will sit with the complainant and work with them on the language of the affidavit of apology with respect to his mimicry of a character in 'Kantara: Chapter 1' in an event last year. This, after the complainant said that there was no genuine remorse expressed by the actor in the affidavit.The Court was hearing the actor's plea to quash an FIR registered against him over his mimicry of a character in '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 role of of actor Rishab Shetty in the movie and referred to the deity as 'female ghost'.At the outset Senior advocate Sajan Poovayya appearing for the actor submitted before Justice M Nagaprasanna, "I have filed affidavit of apology and I have undertaken in that affidavit that I will visit the temple also". However the counsel for the complainant said, "So far as affidavit is concerned, please see para no. 3. Intention...stated in letter and spirit is not been fulfilled. Please see para no. 3. There is no genuine remorse. What they have stated they have not specified in the affidavit". Poovayya pointed to the affidavit said, "Please have para 3...'On date of the incident I did not realise I had offended the worshippers of the Daiva. I also want to clarify I was raised in a Sindhi household in Mumbai and I was not aware of the sensitivities'...'I therefore through this affidavit express my deepest regret and convey my sincerest unconditional apologies for the incident. I will be visiting the temple in Mysore in due course to offer my prayers and express my devotion'...please see para 4...'No sooner I realised I conveyed an open unreserved unconditional apology'". However the complainant's counsel said, "Let them file a proper affidavit. Let them say in the specific words...". To this Poovayya said, "I will work with them on the language of the affidavit which will satisfy and place it before my lord...I'll send them a draft". After hearing the submissions court thereafter listed the matter on April 23. "File to their satisfaction," the court orally said. On March 24, Singh had submitted before the court that he shall file an affidavit before the court tendering an apology with regard to his mimicry of a character in 'Kantara: Chapter 1' movie.Acknowledging the actor's submissions, the court on March 24, orally remarked about the necessity of tendering an apology:"You will. A mistake has happened. He should always have remorse in the matter..." The court further said that this was important because of the magnitude of influence that the actor holds.Senior advocate Sajan Poovayya, appearing for the actor had said, "I will do the exercise of tendering an apology before the court, your Lordship. Based on Your Lordship's orders, I will visit the (Chamundi Devi) temple too".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 & AnrCase No: CRL.P 3024/2026

'Kantara' Mimicry Row: Ranveer Singh To Revise Apology Affidavit Filed Before Karnataka High Court

Sebin James

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