The Karnataka Excessive Court docket Thursday ordered that there can be no coercive steps taken in opposition to Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam if he cooperated with the investigation, with the submitting of a remaining report on this case to be stayed till the subsequent date of the listening to.
The matter was heard by a single decide trip bench consisting of Justice Shivashankar Amarannavar.
Nigam moved the Karnataka Excessive Court docket Tuesday with a petition to quash the felony proceedings filed in opposition to him on Could 2 below below sections 351(2) (felony intimidation), 352(1) (intentional insult to impress breach of peace), and 353 (public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). An issue had erupted over the singer’s remarks at a live performance in Bengaluru on April 25 on the East Level Faculty of Engineering, the place some folks within the viewers insisted that he sing in Kannada, allegedly prompting him to attract a reference to the Pahalgam terrorist assault in April.
Within the proceedings on Thursday earlier than the Court docket, Sonu Nigam’s counsel argued that the only remark made by the singer on the occasion had not led to any mischief, whereas the programme had gone on peacefully for hours. He added that based mostly on this assertion, the criticism was made by an individual who was not current on the venue, whereas Nigam’s assertion didn’t appeal to the sections of regulation cited within the First Data Report (FIR).
The State counsel mentioned Sonu Nigam made the assertion in the course of the programme that was broadcast dwell. With regards to Nigam’s assertion, he mentioned, “On the Madhya Pradesh Excessive Court docket, comparable allegations had been made in opposition to a minister and the courtroom took a suo motu cognisance and directed the FIR to be registered, and the Supreme Court docket had refused to intrude.”
The State counsel additionally mentioned they might not take coercive steps, offered that Nigam cooperated with the investigation.
Nigam’s counsel requested that the courtroom permit the singer to submit his statements through publish or another technique, as bodily look would create a “tamasha” and publicity, contemplating his prominence. In response to a question by the courtroom, the State counsel famous that they would offer no matter safety is required for Nigam, as going to his residence to take a press release can be inserting a premium on the matter.
Story continues beneath this advert
Along with their order, the bench said, “The petitioner (Nigam) is permitted to look by way of video convention earlier than the investigator in that case required for the aim of recording his assertion. If the investigating officer needs to report the assertion bodily, the petitioner shall bear the bills of the investigating officer.”