Indian actress Kasthuri Shankar was arrested by Chennai police in Hyderabad’s Gachibowli area on Saturday following her controversial remarks about the Telugu community during a speech at a meeting of the Hindu extremist party, Hindu Makkal Katchi (HMK), in Tamil Nadu.
Her comments sparked widespread outrage, leading to a case being filed against her by the Madurai Thirunagar police under multiple charges, including incitement to riot.
The 50-year-old actress sought anticipatory bail from the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, but her petition was dismissed. In response to the backlash, she issued a public apology, stating, “It was never my intention to hurt or offend my Telugu extended family. I am sorry for any inadvertent ill feelings.”
The court, however, found her apology insincere, stating that her statement bordered on hate speech and emphasized that public figures must be more cautious with their words.
Despite her efforts to go into hiding after the rejection of her bail, Chennai police tracked her down during a raid at a friend’s house in Hyderabad. She will now be transported to Chennai for a court appearance and physical remand.
Kasthuri Shankar, known for her roles in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada films, is also a strong supporter of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and campaigned for the party in Madurai during the 2024 general elections.
