Actress Kasthuri Shankar Arrested Over Insensitive Remarks on Telugu Community
Yesteryear actress Kasthuri Shankar, a well-known face in South Indian cinema, was arrested by Chennai police in Hyderabad for her controversial comments regarding the Telugu community. The actress, who is also recognized for her role in the film Annamayya, stirred significant outrage last week when she made disparaging remarks about the Telugu community during a rally against Brahmin persecution. Her comments, which involved an offensive claim about the ancestry of the Telugu community in Tamil Nadu, sparked widespread condemnation.
Kasthuri’s remarks suggested that the Telugu community’s origins in Tamil Nadu were linked to courtesans who served kings. This statement angered many in the Telugu-speaking community, both in Tamil Nadu and across India, leading to protests and legal action.
In response to the backlash, a member of the Naidu Mahajana Sangam filed a police complaint, accusing Kasthuri of violating several sections of the BNS Act and the IT Act. Despite issuing a public apology, in which she clarified that her comments were aimed at specific individuals and not the entire Telugu community, the damage had already been done. The apology failed to quell the public outcry, and multiple cases were filed against her for promoting communal discord.
The Madras High Court, which had previously denied her anticipatory bail, criticized her for attempting to malign an entire community and noted that her freedom of speech did not exempt her from facing legal consequences. The court’s ruling made it clear that accountability must be upheld, especially when the speech is harmful and divisive.
Following the court’s decision, Kasthuri went into hiding to avoid arrest. However, after two days of search, the actress was detained by the Chennai police in Hyderabad and is now set to be brought to Chennai for legal proceedings. She will be produced before the court, where further action will be taken.
Kasthuri’s arrest underscores the growing importance of responsible speech, particularly for public figures whose words can have significant social impact.
