Bengaluru, India — January 29, 2026
A Bengaluru court has directed the High Grounds Police Station to register a First Information Report (FIR) against Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through remarks perceived as mocking a sacred Hindu tradition.
Advocate Prashant Methal filed a private complaint accusing Singh of insulting the revered Daiva tradition by imitating the ‘Guliga Daiva’ character from the film Kantara Chapter 1 and referring to Goddess Chamundi as a “ghost.” Methal told ANI that the remarks, made on November 28, 2025, during the closing ceremony of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, offended millions of Hindus.
Singh had praised actor Rishab Shetty’s performance in the film but described a scene by saying the moment was powerful “when the female ghost enters your body.” The widely circulated video sparked backlash, prompting Singh to issue an apology at the time.
Methal first approached High Grounds Police Station on December 3, 2025, to lodge a complaint, but no FIR was registered. He then escalated the matter to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Division) and the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner, without success. On exhaustion of these options, he filed a private complaint under Section 223 of the relevant procedural code.
The complaint invokes Sections 196, 299, and 302 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), offenses punishable by up to three years’ imprisonment, fine, or both.
On January 28, 2026, the court ordered an investigation and directed police to register the FIR before proceeding. High Grounds Police have issued a notice to the actor.
