Sonu Nigam Faces Charges Over 'Pahalgam' Comparison in Kannada Song Incident

In Bengaluru, an FIR has been lodged against singer Sonu Nigam following contentious remarks made during an April 27, 2025, concert. CNN-News18 reports that the Avalahalli Police Station registered the FIR based on a complaint from the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, citing section 352 for "intentional insults intended to provoke a breach of peace." Further details are pending.

This action follows a formal complaint filed with the Bengaluru police by the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV). The KRV accused Sonu Nigam of "comparing Kannada and the Kannadigas’ language struggle to terrorism and what happened in Pahalgam." The letter, obtained by News18, further alleged that Nigam was "trying to incite enmity between different linguistic groups."

The controversy stemmed from Sonu Nigam's reaction during his performance, where he criticized a fan for what he perceived as a rude request for a Kannada song. In his comments, he drew a comparison between the fan's attitude and that of the terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack.

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

- Sonu Nigam

The remarks immediately sparked significant backlash. The Kannada-speaking community widely condemned the comments.