- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22785 CRL.P No. 3024 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 25TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 3024 OF 2026 BETWEEN: SHRI RANVEER SINGH AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS S/O JAGJEET SINGH BHAVNANI RESIDING AT 'B'-2602, BEAU MONDE NEW PRABHADEVI ROAD PRABHADEVI MUMBAI – 400 025 WRONGLY MENTIONED IN THE FIR AS RESIDING AT 'B' BLOCK, 26TH FLOOR APPASAHEB MARATHE MARG PRABHADEVI MUMBAI MAHARASHTRA – 400 025. …PETITIONER (BY SRI SAJAN POOVAYYA, SR.ADVOCATE FOR SRI MANU PRABHAKAR KULKARNI, ADVOCATE) Digitally signed by PADMAVATHI B K Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22785 CRL.P No. 3024 of 2026 AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY HIGH GROUNDS POLICE STATION REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR ATTACHED TO THE COURT HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA HIGH COURT BUILDING BENGALURU – 560 001. 2. SHRI PRASHANT METHAL S/O SIVADAS M., AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS RESIDING AT NO. 4CC - 537 4TH CROSS, 2ND BLOCK HRBR LAYOUT KALYAN NAGAR POST BENGALURU – 560 043. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI B.N.JAGADEESHA, ADDL.SPP FOR R-1; SRI SIJI MALAYIL, ADVOCATE FOR R-2) - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22785 CRL.P No. 3024 of 2026 THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.528 BNSS PRAYING TO a. SET ASIDE THE ORDER DATED 23.01.2026 PASSED BY THE Ld. I ADDL. CJM BENGALURU IN PCR NO.21236/2025 PASSED U/S.175(3) OF BNSS, 2023 (ANNEXURE C); b. QUASH THE FIR IN CRIME NO.17/2026 REGISTERED BY RESPONDENT NO.1 THAT IS HIGH GROUNDS POLICE STATION FOR OFFENCES P/U/S 196, 299 AND 302 OF BNSS 2023 ON THE FILE OF THE I ACMM COURT NRUPATHUNGA ROAD, BENGALURU CITY ANNEXURE A; c. QUASH THE COMPLAINT IN PCR NO.21236/2025 WHICH CULMINATED IN THE REGISTRATION OF FIR IN CRIME NO.17/2026 REGISTERED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.1 i.e., HIGH GROUNDS POLICE STATION FOR OFFENCES P/U/S 196, 299 AND 302 OF BNS, 2023 (ANNEXURE B). THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA ORAL ORDER The petitioner is before the Court seeking the following prayers: "a. Setaside the order dated 23.01.2026 passed by the Ld. I Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bengaluru (I ACJM, Bengaluru), in P.C.R. No. 21236/2025 passed under Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Annexure 'C'). b. Quash the FIR in Crime No. 0017/2026 registered by Respondent No.1 on the file of 1st Addl. CMM Court, Nrupatunga Road, Bengaluru City i.e., High - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22785 CRL.P No. 3024 of 2026 Grounds Police Station for offences, punishable under Section 196, 299 and 302, of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. (Annexure A). c. Quash the Complaint in P.C.R. No. 21236/2025 which culminated in the registration of FIR in Crime No. 0017/2026 registered by the Respondent No.1 i.e., High Grounds Police Station for offences punishable under Section 196, 299 and 302 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. (Annexure B); and d. Pass such other/ further order(s) as this Hon'ble Court deems fit and necessary in the facts and circumstances of the instant case, and in the interests of justice." 2. The petitioner is a renowned artist. On 28.11.2025, he was invited upon the stage during the closing ceremony of 56th IFFI Festival to promote his upcoming movie 'Dhurandar'. In the speech, while appreciating the performance of Mr. Rishab Shetty, the petitioner mimicked his performance. Mimicking of the performance of Rishab Shetty in the movie, led to severe resentment and registration of a complaint on 03.12.2025. The complaint becomes a crime in Crime No.17/2026 for offences punishable under Sections 196, 299 and 302 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. On 23.01.2026, the Police filed a report before the Magistrate and the Magistrate refers the matter for investigation. It is this that is called in question in the subject petition. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22785 CRL.P No. 3024 of 2026 3. Heard Sri. Sajan Poovayya, learned Senior counsel for Sri. Manu Prabhakar Kulkarni, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, Sri. B.N. Jagadeesha, learned Additional Special Public Prosecutor appearing for respondent No.1 and Sri. Siji Malayil, learned counsel appearing for respondent No.2. 4. Though several legal issues are projected by the learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner and by the counsel for the complainant, this Court felt it fit to direct an affidavit of apology to be filed before this Court and a visit of the petitioner to the deity at Mysuru. Accordingly, the petitioner has filed an affidavit of undertaking that he would visit the deity. The affidavit of undertaking reads as follows: "AFFIDAVIT I, Ranveer Singh @ Ranveer Singh Jugjeet Singh Bhavnani, aged about 41 years, S/o Jugjeet Singh Bhavnani, residing at 'B' Block, 26th Floor, Appasaheb Marathe Marg, Prabhadevi, Mumbai, Maharashtra- 400 025, do solemnly affirm and depose on oath as under, pertaining to the incident that ensued at the IFFI Film Festival held on 28.11.2025 at Panjim: 1. At the outset, I apologize for unintentionally and inadvertently having offended sentiments of all communities who worship the deity Chavundi Daiva. I have the deepest respect and regard for the Hindu religion in all its manifestations and also for all religions and communities around the world, including within the Karnataka state. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22785 CRL.P No. 3024 of 2026 2. I have realized and understood the sensitivity surrounding the issue and am therefore expressing my deepest regret and conveying my sincere and unconditional apology. I will be visiting the Temple of the deity in Mysuru i.e., Shri. Chamundeshwari Temple, in due course, to offer my prayers and express my devotion. VERIFICATION I, Ranveer Singh Bhavnani, son of Jugjeet Singh Bhavnani, aged about 41 years, the deponent herein, do solemnly declare that whatever is stated in para nos. 1 to 2 above is true to my knowledge and belief." The affidavit of undertaking has generated certain objections from the hands of the respondents, on the sole score that there is no timeline fixed as to when he would visit the deity, but were satisfied with the regret expressed in the affidavit by the petitioner. 5. In the light of the petitioner tendering apology and also that he would visit the temple and owing to the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, I deem it appropriate to record the affidavit and close the proceedings qua the petitioner that have now been instituted for the aforesaid offences, with a rider that the petitioner shall visit the temple, within an outer limit of four weeks from the date of receipt of the copy of the order. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22785 CRL.P No. 3024 of 2026 6. It is needless to observe that any iteration by the actor of the kind, that is now projected in the petition, would undoubtedly be viewed seriously. 7. With the aforesaid observations, the petition is disposed. Ordered accordingly. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE JY List No.: 2 Sl No.: 16