Karnataka high court grants Ranveer Singh interim relief, bars coercive action over ‘Kantara’ mimicry row

BENGALURU: The Karnataka high court on Tuesday passed a conditional ad interim order directing the Bengaluru police not to take any coercive steps against Hindi actor Ranveer Singh, subject to the condition that he co-operates with the investigation.

The respondents were told to file their objections by Monday, the next date of hearing.




The actor filed a petition before the Karnataka High Court challenging the crime registered against him for his mimicry of a character in the Kannada movie 'Kantara: Chapter 1'.

“A superstar is not ‘ooper’ (above) law. You have no right to hurt the sentiments of people. You, being an actor, have influence on people. Being a superstar, you have to be responsible in making statements. You cannot be loose-tongued at all,” Justice M Nagaprasanna orally observed.

This was after senior advocate Sajan Poovayya, appearing for Ranveer, submitted that the petitioner made a completely insensitive, reckless statement and tendered an apology immediately for mimicking Chamundi daiva as a female ghost.

He further claimed that the order passed by the magistrate lacked application of mind.

“I may forget, you may forget, and people may forget. The internet never forgets,” Justice Nagaprasanna responded.

On the other hand, the counsel for the complainant submitted that it was a “shoot and scoot” attempt on the part of the petitioner.

The incident happened during the promotion event of the movie 'Durandhar' at the IFFI festival held in Goa. On stage, Ranveer allegedly mimicked actor Rishab Shetty as portrayed by the latter in the movie 'Kantara'. The High Grounds police in Bengaluru registered the FIR based on a private complaint against Ranveer Singh.