Vijay Deverakonda has been booked under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by the Raidurgam Police in Hyderabad on Sunday, following allegations that he made derogatory comments about the tribal community during a film promotional event.
The complaint, filed by tribal rights activist Nenavath Ashok Kumar Naik, centres around remarks made by Deverakonda at the Retro pre-release event on April 26. Referring to a recent terror incident in Pahalgam, the actor reportedly described the attackers as “tribals from 500 years ago, fighting without common sense”, a comparison that drew strong criticism from tribal organisations.
In response, the Tribal Joint Action Committee condemned the remarks and demanded a public apology. While Deverakonda later issued a clarification on social media, stating that he did not intend to insult or target India’s Scheduled Tribes and was referring to ancient tribal warfare in a broader historical context, the police have registered a formal FIR.
Madhapur ACP Sridhar confirmed that the case has been taken up for investigation and that due process is being followed under relevant sections of the SC/ST Act.
The incident has sparked mixed reactions online, with some calling for greater sensitivity from public figures, while others argued the actor’s comments may have been misunderstood or misinterpreted.
Meanwhile, Deverakonda’s next film, Kingdom, directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri and co-starring Bhagyashri Borse, is currently awaiting a release date.