Sonu Nigam to give statement as Bengaluru Police head to Mumbai over Kannada song row

A team of police officers from Bengaluru is travelling to Mumbai to take a statement from singer Sonu Nigam. This comes after an FIR was filed against him for his remarks linking a demand for a Kannada song to the recent Pahalgam terror attack, officials said on Saturday, as reported by IANS.

Police team heading to Mumbai
The police team includes an Inspector from Avalahalli Police Station and two other officers. They will record Sonu Nigam’s statement in connection with the FIR. The entire process will be video recorded. Senior police officials have given clear instructions, and the questioning will follow the rules set by the Karnataka high court.

Karnataka High Court’s orders
Earlier, the Karnataka high court said no forceful action should be taken against Sonu Nigam until the next hearing. The court also stopped the police from filing the final report in the case. Additional State Public Prosecutor B.N. Jagadeesha told the court that “no coercive steps" will be taken if Sonu Nigam cooperates with the police. Nigam had asked the Karnataka high court to cancel the FIR filed against him.


What led to the FIR?
The FIR was filed on 3 May 2025 at Avalahalli Police Station after a complaint by the group Karnataka Rakshana Vedike. It was related to Sonu’s comments made during a concert on 27 April 2025 at East Point College of Engineering and Technology in Bengaluru.

Sonu Nigam’s controversial comments
At the event, Sonu criticised a fan who had rudely asked for a Kannada song. He compared the fan’s behaviour to the terrorists behind the Pahalgam attack. He said, “Mujhe accha nahi laga ki waha ek ladka jiski umar, jitni uske umar nahi hogi use pehle toh main Kannada gaane garaha hoon. He was so rudely threatening me, ‘Kannada, Kannada’. Yahi kaaran hai, Pahalgam mein jo hua hai na? Yahi kaaran hai jo karrahe ho, jo kiya tha na abhi? Dekho toh kaun saamne khada hai. I love Kannadigas, I love you guys. Main puri duniya mein jaha bhi jata hoon, main humesha bolta hoon main, sabko bolta hoon main…14,000 ki audience hog usme ek awaaz aati hai, ‘Kannada’. Toh main unke liye, us ek Kannadiga k liye main kuch line Kannadiga k gaata hoon. Main itni izzat karta hoon aapki, itna pyaar karta hoon. So thoda sa rehna chahiye, aesa nahi karna chahiye aapko." These words caused a strong reaction from the Kannada-speaking community, who felt hurt and offended.


Sonu Nigam’s apology
After the backlash, Sonu Nigam apologised on social media, saying, “Sorry Karnataka. My love for you is bigger than my ego. Love you always."