Team Herald
PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has ordered a stay in the investigation into a First Information Report (FIR) filed against four musicians for hurting religious sentiments during a show at Serendipity Arts Festival last year.
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The court has also issued a notice to Goa government and the police to reply to the petition filed by the artistes seeking to quash the FIR.
In December 2019, Panjim Police had arrested four artistes – Sumant Balakrishnan, Anirban Ghosh, Shiva Pathak and Nirmala Ravindera, from the band, Dastaan Live – for allegedly insulting Hindu sentiments during the show.
An FIR under Section 295 (A) of the Indian Penal Code (Insulting Religious Feelings) was registered following a complaint by Venkat Krishna Kunduru, a Supreme Court lawyer.
The artistes were later released on conditional bail, and have now approached the High Court seeking quashing the FIR.
The Serendipity Arts Festival was held in Goa from December 15 to 22.
