Bengaluru, Nov 3 The Bengaluru police have directed the management of Suchitra Cinema and Cultural Academy in Banashankari to postpone all ongoing and scheduled performances at its premises until further orders, following an incident involving playwright Addanda Cariappa.
The directive came days after a group of people allegedly smeared ink on Cariappa during a theatrical performance here, accusing him of portraying Mahatma Gandhi as anti-national.
Following the incident, both the group that staged a protest against the play and the playwright filed separate complaints at the Banashankari police station, police said.
“This is to inform you that complaints and counter-complaints have been registered at Banashankari Police Station in connection with the staging of the play ‘The Truth of Gandhi’s Assassination’ at your Suchitra Cinema and Cultural Academy on October 31, 2026, and the matter is currently under investigation,” a notice dated November 1 issued by the Inspector of Police of Banashankari police station stated.
It further instructed the academy to postpone all ongoing and scheduled performances with immediate effect until further orders.
“In the event that any plays or performances are held and result in a disturbance to law and order, legal action will be initiated against you and the academy,” it added.
On October 31, a group of people allegedly smeared ink on playwright Addanda Cariappa during a theatrical performance here, accusing him of portraying Mahatma Gandhi as “anti-national”.
According to police, in his complaint, Cariappa alleged that 12 to 15 people disrupted the performance, assaulted him, threw ink on him and threatened to kill him. He maintained that the play was based on references from books.
In a complaint filed by Kushal Hanumegowda and 14 others, the play titled ‘Gandhi Hatheya Kicchu’ was alleged to have portrayed Mahatma Gandhi as anti-national and Nathuram Godse as a hero.
The complainants alleged that the play blamed Gandhi and the Congress for the country’s Partition.
Based on complaints and counter-complaints from both sides, FIRs were registered on November 1 in connection with the incident.
On November 2, the matter escalated when an unidentified person allegedly hurled a slipper at Cariappa outside the academy while he was addressing the media, amid police presence.
Taking to social media platform X, BJP Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya accused the Congress government in the state of curbing freedom of expression and criticised the police department’s role, saying it should safeguard law and justice and not protect the political interests of the ruling party.
“Freedom of expression is not alms given by your government; it is a right granted by the Constitution,” he said.
He compared the restrictions imposed on newspapers during the Emergency with what he described as obstacles to artistic expression in Karnataka, alleging that the Congress had not changed its “authoritarian tactics”.
Referring to the incident involving Cariappa, Surya questioned the police action following the alleged attack on him and accused the government of “shielding” those who smeared ink on the artist.
“What kind of justice is it to attack senior theatre artist Addanda Karyappa and shield the miscreants who smeared ink, thereby striking at freedom of expression?” he asked.
He also criticised the police department’s role, saying it should safeguard law and justice and not protect the political interests of the ruling party.
“Democracy and the Constitution do not operate at Rahul Gandhi’s behest.
(PTI News)
