Ranveer Singh allegedly insulted Shree Chamundi Daiva by calling the deity a ghost

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Mangaluru : During the closing ceremony of the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), recently held in Goa, Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh enacted on stage a sequence from the Kannada film “Kantara – Chapter 1”, depicting the divine manifestation shown in the film. While doing so, he referred to the sacred deity of the Koti Tulu community, “Shree Chamundi Daiva”, as a “female ghost”. In this connection, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti has submitted a written complaint at Panaji Police Station, demanding registration of a criminal case against Ranveer Singh for insulting Chamundi Daiva and thereby hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus.

The memorandum was handed over to Police Sub-Inspector Mr. Sahin Shetye at Panaji Police Station by Mr. Pramod Tuyekar and Mr. Dilip Shetye on behalf of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti. The complaint states that “Shree Chamundi Daiva” is revered as a tutelary and family deity by the Tulu community in Karnataka. Addressing this deity as a “ghost” and imitating the divine form on a public stage merely for entertainment purposes is a highly derogatory act and amounts to an attack on the sacred beliefs of the Hindu community. This incident has created an atmosphere of resentment in society, and the possibility of disturbance to public peace cannot be ruled out. The Samiti has therefore urged that, under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, sections 299, 194 and 302 relating to deliberate wounding of religious feelings and promoting enmity in society, a formal offence be registered against Ranveer Singh and a thorough investigation be conducted.

The Samiti has also called upon the IFFI organisers and concerned authorities to frame a clear code of conduct to ensure that, in future, no religious deity of any faith is subjected to ridicule or disrespect at such events, and that this code is strictly implemented. Further, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti has expressed the expectation that Ranveer Singh should publicly apologise to Shree Chamundi Daiva and give an assurance that he will refrain from making such remarks or performing such acts in future. The Samiti has appealed to all Hindu brethren to register their protest against this insult in a peaceful, restrained yet firm manner, strictly within the framework of law.