Case filed under atrocity Act against reality show actor ‘Huli’ Karthik

BENGALURU: A case under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act has been registered against popular comedian and reality show actor ‘Huli’ Karthik for his alleged derogatory remarks against a certain community.

Karthik had apparently taken the name of a scheduled community in a negative way. At an awards event on a private television channel, he reportedly said, “…you are like a vadda (stone cutter) who is lying on the street”, which is said to have hurt the sentiments of the Bhovi community.

The complainant Lokesh has sought action against the actor, the programme moderator, director and producer. The complaint was lodged with the Annapoorneshwari Nagar police station in which ‘Huli’ Karthik has been named as the first accused.

Reacting to the issue, Karthik said in a vide message, “We are into the profession of entertaining all communities and not to hurt anyone. No private television channel will allow mockery of any caste or religion and there are safeguards according to which the script is written. The word ‘honda’ (pit) which I have used does not refer to any caste”.

Further, he said the line which he uttered was, “Neenu Gundana, road nalli biddiruva honda iddahaage iddiya”. “Because of the background score, it may have sounded like the name of a community. There was no intention to make fun of any community. If at all anyone has heard it as derogatory, please forgive me. It was never out intention to hurt anyone”, he added.