Actor Chetan Ahimsa’s OCI status revoked, says he’ll seek legal recourse

BENGALURU: The Union government on Saturday cancelled the visa of Kannada actor Chetan Kumar, popularly known as Chetan ‘Ahimsa’ and has also issued him a notice to return the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card within 15 days of receipt of the letter. The move follows his alleged involvement in ‘anti-India’ activities.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Chetan said he will consult his lawyers and secure a stay order from the court against the Centre’s move. “For 23 years, I lived and studied in the US and then came to India and joined the movie industry and worked in different capacities. I took up the cause of Adivasis and we constructed 528 houses for them. The government does not tolerate that I subcribe to Ambedkar and Periyar ideology and withdrew the gunman provided to me one-and-half-years ago. Just because I said ‘Brahmin lobby’, 2,950 cases were filed against me. I was sent to jail for three days over a tweet which allegedly hurt religious sentiments”, he said.

Actor Chetan was arrested from his house last month over a controversial tweet.

The actor said that with the OCI status, he is granted all right except voting, contesting elections and taking up government employment. “Ten months ago, the Home ministry issued a showcause notice stating that I was involved in criminal cases and I had submitted all documents. Where am I involved in anti-national activities? This is a conspiracy against me to not let me stay in the country”, he claimed.

Chetan said that he came to India in 2015 on research grants to study societal transformation through folk arts. “Since my parents are from India, I was given the OCI card. I have PAN, Aadhaar and I pay my taxes here. I will challenge the notice legally and I have no plans of going to the US”, he added.