Guwahati, May 14 -- Playback singer Sonu Nigam has approached the Karnataka High Court, requesting the dismissal of criminal charges against him over comments made during a live performance in Bengaluru. The High Court has reviewed initial submissions and set the next hearing for May 15.

The issue arose after Nigam performed at a concert on April 22, where a video clip of his statements from the stage began circulating widely online. The footage drew criticism from various Kannada organisations, who accused the artist of making disrespectful comments about the Kannadiga community.

Following the backlash, Dharmaraj A., President of the Bengaluru Urban District unit of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, a pro-Kannada group, filed a formal complai...