Vijay Deverakonda In Legal Trouble: Case Filed Under SC/ST Act Despite Apology Over Controversial Remark

Vijay Deverakonda Booked Under SC/ST Act: Actor Vijay Deverakonda has been booked under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in connection with comments he made during a public event earlier this year. The case was registered by Raidurgam police in Cyberabad on June 17, following a complaint filed by Nenavath Ashok Kumar Naik, State President of the Joint Action Committee of Tribal Communities.

The controversy stems from remarks made by Arjun Reddy actor Vijay Deverakonda in April during the pre-release event of the film Retro, starring actor Suriya. While referencing the Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir, Deverakonda made a comparison that has since drawn sharp criticism. According to India Today, he said that Pakistanis "behave like tribals did 500 years ago, fighting without common sense," a statement that some interpreted as offensive toward tribal communities.

In his complaint, Nenavath Ashok Kumar alleged that the actor's comments insulted and demeaned tribal people by equating their historical existence with present-day terrorism. The remarks, he argued, reinforced harmful stereotypes and undermined the dignity of Scheduled Tribes. Another complaint had earlier been reportedly filed by Hyderabad-based lawyer Lal Chauhan at SR Nagar police station, citing similar concerns.

Apology and Clarification

In response to the growing backlash, Deverakonda issued a public apology on May 3 via social media platform X. He clarified that the term "tribals," as used in his speech, was meant in a historical and generic sense and was not directed at India's officially recognized Scheduled Tribes. "There was absolutely no intention to hurt or target any community, especially our Scheduled Tribes, whom I deeply respect and consider an integral part of our country," the actor wrote. He added that his goal was to emphasize unity and progress, not to divide or offend.

Deverakonda further explained that the word "tribe" was used in a dictionary-defined context, referring to ancient human societies, and that his message had been misunderstood. "If any part of my message was misunderstood or hurtful, I express my sincere regret," he stated.

The investigation into the case is ongoing, with authorities examining the content of the speech and its potential impact. Meanwhile, Vijay Deverakonda is preparing for the release of his upcoming film Kingdom.