BENGALURU: The Karnataka high court on Saturday quashed proceedings against Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh after accepting his revised undertaking to visit the Chavundi deity as an act of atonement for his mimicry of the deity's depiction in the film Kantara.
Court Proceedings
Justice M Nagaprasanna indicated that the plea would be disposed of, adding that a detailed order will follow, directing the petitioner to visit the deity within four weeks.
At the hearing, senior advocate Sajan Poovayya, appearing for Singh, submitted that he had filed an unconditional affidavit stating he will visit the temple, though without specifying a date. The complainant, however, submitted that a definite timeframe must be mentioned. Responding to this, Justice Nagaprasanna said while disposing of the petition, the order will record a four-week timeframe for the visit.
The complainant further requested the court include a harsh caution in its order to deter other celebrities from behaving similarly. Admonition definitely we will do. I will admonish, the judge said.
Background of the Case
The case stems from a complaint filed by Prashant Methal, a resident of HBR Layout, over Singh's controversial imitation of actor Rishab Shetty and comments about Chavundi Daiva, a revered deity in coastal Karnataka, whom he reportedly referred to as a female ghost at the International Film Festival of India in Goa last year.
This development brings closure to a legal battle that highlighted the sensitivity surrounding religious sentiments in India. The court's decision underscores the importance of respecting cultural and religious icons while allowing celebrities to express themselves within legal bounds.
