A case was filed against veteran film actor Kamal Haasan in a court in Varanasi on Friday for his comments on "Hindu terror".
The case has been filed under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) that pertain to defamation, attempt to cause offence, intent to hurt religious feelings and to incite communal disharmony.
The court has listed the case for hearing on Saturday.
In an article in a Tamil magazine that came into public domain on Thursday, the film actor has observed that "Hindu right-wing groups have unprecedentedly started indulging in acts of violence".
Hassan, in his article, wrote, “In the past, Hindu right-wing groups would not indulge in violence, but they would hold a dialogue with the opposite parties on their arguments. But this old tactic was defeated and what they stated to do is use muscle power. They started indulging in violence.”
“The right wing cannot challenge talk of Hindu terrorists because terror has spread into their camp as well,” wrote the Tamil film icon.
Haasan’s remark drew flaw from various quarters, especially the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
PRAKASH RAJ BACKS KAMAL ON 'HINDU EXTREMISM'
Actor-filmmaker Prakash Raj on Friday supported actor Kamal Haasan's views on "Hindu extremists".
"If instilling fear in the name of religion... culture... morality is not terrorizing... then what is it. Just asking," tweeted Prakash Raj, a popular name in the Kannada, Telugu and Tamil film industries.
In an accompanying post titled "To whomsoever it may concern", Prakash Raj wrote: "If abusing and manhandling young couples on the streets of my country in the name of morality is not terrorizing... If taking law into hands and lynching people on slightest doubt of cow slaughter is not terrorizing... If trolling with abuse, threat... to silence even a slightest voice of dissent is not terrorizing... Then what is terrorizing... Just asking."
His comment came after Kamal wrote in a Tamil magazine that earlier rightwing Hindus used to argue but without indulging in violence. But as their "cunningness" started to fail, they began to resort to violence.
"Extremism has spread into their camp as well," said Kamal, who is said to be preparing for a political plunge. "This extremism is not a victory or progress to those who call themselves Hindus."
A month ago, Prakash Raj had condemned the "silence" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on certain sections "celebrating" the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh on social media. He had said Modi's silence was "chilling".
