Kantara remark: Karnataka HC directs police not to take coercive action against actor Ranveer Singh

Giving partial relief to Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh, the Karnataka High Court on February 24 directed the police not to take coercive steps based on the first information report (FIR) registered against him for allegedly hurting religious sentiments by his act of ‘mocking’ the sacred daiva tradition depicted in the Kannada film. Weighbridge Part 1.

However, the court ordered the actor to cooperate with the investigation.

Justice M. Nagaprasanna passed the interim order on the petition filed by Mr. Singh.

Senior Advocate Sajan Poovayya, who appeared on behalf of the actor during the hearing, said that these words amounted to recklessness but were not a deliberate statement with the intention of hurting anyone’s sentiments and hence did not lead to criminal prosecution as per the court orders. Mr Poovayya said the actor would cooperate with the investigation.

Meanwhile, the court verbally observed that these words of the actor, although not intentional, were certainly reckless and stated that famous people cannot have loose language and they should do some research before making any comments as people will be influenced by their words. The court asked, “How can the plaintiff make such a statement against the diet?” he asked.

On the claim that the actor apologized immediately after realizing his mistake, the court said that the public may forget, but ‘the internet will never forget this’.

On the other hand, the complainant’s counsel submitted that Mr. Singh impersonated the daiva even after he was asked by actor Rishab Shetty not to do so.

However, the court agreed to review the correctness of the magistrate’s decision to refer the complaint to investigation.

The FIR was registered by the High Grounds police in Bengaluru on the directions of a metropolitan magistrate court acting on a private complaint filed by Prashanth Metha, a Bengaluru-based lawyer, who approached the magistrate court after the city police, including the deputy commissioner of police and the commissioner of police, failed to act on his complaint against the actor.

Ranveer Singh described the revered daiva Chavundi from coastal Karnataka as a ‘female ghost’ while mimicking actor Rishab Shetty’s performance in the film’s climax on stage at the closing ceremony of the 2025 Goa International Film Festival held in Goa on November 28.

In a post on Instagram on December 1, 2025, Mr. Singh apologized for his behavior, explaining that he did not want to hurt anyone’s sentiments but wanted to appreciate Rishab Shetty’s performance in the film.