THE TIMES OF INDIA (December 16, 2017)

The Karnataka government on Friday denied permission to Bollywood actor Sunny Leone to perform at a New Year’s Eve show in Bengaluru.

“We have denied permission fearing law and order problems in the wake of protests by pro-Kannada outfits and also keeping in view the directions of the Karnataka high court in a molestation case reported on MG Road last New Year’s Eve,” home minister R Ramalinga Reddy told TOI. He added that they decided not to grant permission considering that her fans in Kochi went berserk during her visit there in August. “We took feedback from Kochi police before taking the decision,” Reddy added.

The event, billed as ‘Sunny Night in Bengaluru NYE 2018’ is to be held at White Orchid convention centre in the city. The organisers, The Time Creations, meanwhile, said: “We haven’t received any official communication from the police. We’ll wait for it before calling off the event. We don’t know why there is so much fuss about Leone performing here. She is here only to perform for a family show.”

A senior police official said they may not permit Sunny Leone for the event. “We are waiting for the government’s directions. As of now, the home minister and other senior police officials are of the opinion that permission should not be given,” he said.

Some pro-Kannada groups, including Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, were up in arms against the show, claiming it would be an assault on Kannada culture and tradition and would corrupt young minds. “We don’t want her to come spoil our youth,” the protesters had said. Karnataka Rakshana Vedike members protested on Friday at Manyata Tech Park by burning posters of the actor and threatened “mass suicide” if her programme is eventually held.

This is not the first time that Leone is visiting Bengaluru for an event.