Karnataka High Court Quashes FIR Against Ranveer Singh Over 'Kantara' Mimicry; Orders Him To Visit Chamundeshwari Temple Within 4 Weeks

The Karnataka High Court has closed the criminal proceedings initiated against Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh for allegedly outraging religious sentiments during a mimicry performance of the daiva/deity from the movie Kantara. A single-judge bench of Justice M. Nagaprasanna recorded the affidavit containing the actor's unconditional apology and directed him to visit the Shri Chamundeshwari Temple in Mysuru within four weeks to offer prayers.“…In the light of the petitioner tendering apology and also that he would visit the temple and owing to the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, I deem it appropriate to record the affidavit and close the proceedings qua the petitioner that have now been instituted for the aforesaid offences, with a rider that the petitioner shall visit the temple, within an outer limit of four weeks from the date of receipt of the copy of the order…”, the single judge bench has said in the order.The development comes in the actor's plea to quash the 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, Singh is stated to have mimicked the role of actor Rishab Shetty in the movie and referred to the Chamundeshwari temple deity as 'female ghost'.Previously, the court had mentioned that it wouldn't be passing an order on the legal aspects of the matter since Ranveer had tendered an 'unconditional apology'.The affidavit filed by the actor stated, “I apologize for unintentionally and inadvertently having offended sentiments of all communities who worship the deity Chavundi Daiva. I have the deepest respect and regard for the Hindu religion in all its manifestations and also for all religions and communities around the world, including within the Karnataka state.... I will be visiting the Temple of the deity in Mysuru i.e., Shri. Chamundeshwari Temple, in due course, to offer my prayers and express my devotion.”Accordingly, while closing the matter, the single-judge bench also cautioned the actor not to repeat any such conduct in the future.“…It is needless to observe that any iteration by the actor of the kind, that is now projected in the petition, would undoubtedly be viewed seriously”, Justice Nagaprasanna said.Singh's plea challenged an FIR registered by the High Grounds Police Station [Cr No 17/2026] based on the complaint of an advocate, Prashanth Methel, 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 sought 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: Shri Ranveer Singh v/s State of Karnataka & Anr Case No: CRL.P 3024/2026 Appearances: Senior Advocate Sajan Poovayya for Petitioner, Addl. SPP B.N. Jagadeesha for R-1; Advocate Siji Malayil for R-2[complainant Prashanth Mehthel]Click Here To Read/Download Order

Karnataka High Court Quashes FIR Against Ranveer Singh Over 'Kantara' Mimicry; Orders Him To Visit Chamundeshwari Temple Within 4 Weeks

Sebin James

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