The Hyderabad police have booked Telugu actor Vijay Deverakonda under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for an alleged derogatory statement he made on tribals at a public event.
The actor allegedly made the comments during a promotional event for a film in April this year. In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, he likened Pakistan to a tribal community at the event.
The Tribal Welfare Association of Telangana referenced the comment and filed a complaint at Hyderabad’s Raidurgam police station against Deverakonda on June 17.
“The complaint was studied and case booked as it is a serious offence to pass disparaging remarks against any caste or tribe,” a Telangana police official told the Indian Express.
On Sunday, Deverakonda issued a public apology and clarification. He wrote, “The word tribe, as I used it, was meant in the historical and dictionary sense – referring to a time centuries ago when human society globally was organised into tribes and clans, often in conflict. It was never a reference to the Scheduled Tribes classification, which was introduced during colonial and post-colonial India and formalised only in the mid-20th century – not even 100 years ago.”
“There was no intention to hurt or target any community, especially our Scheduled Tribes, who I deeply respect and consider an integral part of our country,” he wrote. “If any part of my message was misunderstood or hurtful, I express my sincere regret. My only aim was to speak of peace, progress, and togetherness. I remain committed to using my platform to uplift and unify — never to divide.”
Deverakonda, among the highest-paid actors in the Telugu film industry, rose to prominence after starring as the lead in Pelli Choopulu (2016) and Arjun Reddy (2017). In 2019, he launched his own production house called King of the Hill Entertainment.
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