Telugu actor Vijay Deverakonda has been charged under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by the Raidurgam police, following a complaint lodged regarding alleged casteist remarks he made during a pre-release event of a film in April.
The incident occurred at the audio launch of the Tamil film Retro, starring Suriya and directed by Karthik Subbaraj, where Vijay Deverakonda was present as a chief guest.
According to the FIR, filed after a complaint by Nenavath Ashok Kumar Naik (also known as Ashok Rathod), State President of the Joint Action Committee of Tribal Communities, the actor allegedly compared the recent Pahalgam attack in Kashmir with historical conflicts within tribal communities.
During the event, referring to the recently held Pahalgam attack, the actor reportedly said:
“The solution to what is happening in Kashmir is also to educate them (militants) and ensure they don’t get brainwashed. What will they achieve? Kashmir belongs to India, and Kashmiris are ours. India doesn’t even need to attack Pakistan because Pakistanis themselves are fed up with their government and will attack them if this continues.”
“Asalu 500 years back tribals kokkutunnatu, veelu buddhi lekunda, minimum common sense lekunda chese panulu” (They behave like tribals did 500 years ago, fighting without common sense), he added.
The complainant alleged that he “insulted their tribal community by saying that they had beaten them 500 years ago without any intelligence and minimum common sense,” and “made comments comparing them to Pakistani terrorists.”
Attaching a YouTube link of the video of the event, which is widely shared across social media, Rathod further claimed in the complaint that the actor’s comparison of tribal people to Pakistani terrorists was racially insensitive.
“The actor’s reference to tribal communities in the context of terrorism is unacceptable and dangerous,” said association president Kishan Raj Chauhan, who also demanded a public apology from the actor.
Earlier on May 2, 2025, SR Nagar police had registered a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, citing the actor’s remarks as derogatory toward tribal populations.
The next day, May 3, 2025, Deverakonda issued a clarification on X, stating: “There was no intention to hurt or target any community, especially our Scheduled Tribes, whom I deeply respect and consider an integral part of our country.”
“I was speaking about unity—about how India is one, our people are one, and how we must move forward together. In what world would I, while urging us to stand as a country, deliberately discriminate against any group of Indians—all of whom I see as my family, like my brothers,” the actor added.
Expressing regret, he said: “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.”
Vijay Deverakonda is one of the highest-paid actors in Telugu cinema and has been featured in Forbes India’s Celebrity 100 since 2018. He runs his production house, King of the Hill Entertainment, endorses numerous brands, and supports various humanitarian causes.
 Act by the Raidurgam police, following a complaint lodged regarding alleged casteist remarks he made during a pre-release event of a film in April.){kind=link}