New Delhi / Hyderabad: A fresh legal case has been initiated against prominent Tollywood star Vijay Deverakonda under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, following remarks he made during the pre-release event of the film Retro on April 26 in Hyderabad.
The Raidurgam police in Cyberabad have registered an FIR after a complaint was filed by Nenavath Ashok Kumar Naik, head of the Tribal Joint Action Committee, alleging that Deverakonda compared terrorists to tribal communities.
At the promotional event, condemning the Pahalgam terror attack, Deverakonda said: “They behave like tribals did 500 years ago, fighting without common sense.”
This analogy drew criticism from tribal leaders, who viewed it as offensive and derogatory toward Scheduled Tribes. The initial complaint was lodged by Ashok Kumar Naik in Saidabad, leading to an FIR at Raidurgam police station.
Earlier, Hyderabad-based lawyer Lal Chauhan filed a separate complaint at SR Nagar police station under the same law.
The actor’s response
In early May, Deverakonda issued a public apology, clarifying he meant the term “tribe” in a historical and anthropological context—not targeting present‐day Scheduled Tribes. “There was absolutely no intention to hurt or target any community… our Scheduled Tribes, whom I deeply respect and consider an integral part of our country,” he wrote.
He further explained “tribe” referring to ancient clan-based societies, not modern constitutional classifications. Deverakonda stated he would use his platform to uplift and unify, not divide. The Raidurgam police investigation is ongoing; no statements have been made yet regarding charges or case progression. This marks the second FIR against Deverakonda under the SC/ST Act.
Meanwhile, the actor continues to promote his upcoming film Kingdom, slated for release later this year.
