Hyderabad: Tamil actor Kasthuri Shankar was arrested by a special team of Tamil Nadu police in Hyderabad on Saturday. She was taken into custody for allegedly making offensive remarks against Telugu-speaking people.
The 50-year-old actor’s comments, made on November 3, sparked widespread criticism. Following her remarks, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed in Tamil Nadu. The complaint was lodged by the Naidu Mahajana Sangam State Executive Committee, calling for action against her.
The FIR mentioned violations under several sections of the BNS Act and the IT Act. In response, Kasthuri clarified that it was never her intention to hurt or offend the Telugu community. She explained on social media platform X that her comments were directed at specific individuals, not the entire Telugu-speaking population.
On Saturday evening, a special team from the Greater Chennai City police arrested her from a guest house in Gachibowli, Hyderabad. The arrest came after the Madras High Court dismissed her anticipatory bail on November 14, stating that her remarks amounted to hate speech.
Prominent BJP leaders from Telangana, including Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy, have been demanding an apology from the actor. Reddy, who is also the national co-in-charge for Tamil Nadu, noted that Kasthuri’s statements disrupted communal harmony and went against the principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” which means the world is one family.
