Police suspend production of controversial Gandhi play, Addanda Cariappa attacked again

In a notice pasted on the gate of the academy, the Banashankari jurisdictional police said complaints and counter-complaints regarding the game are under investigation. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

The Bengaluru City Police has ordered the management of Suchitra Cinema and Cultural Academy to suspend all ongoing and scheduled performances of the controversial play Gandhi Hatyeya Satya by former Rangayana director Addanda C. Cariappa. The play, whose final performance is scheduled for Monday (November 2), has been cancelled.

In a notice pasted on the gate of the academy, the Banashankari Jurisdictional Police said complaints and counter-complaints regarding the play were being investigated and warned that the management would face legal consequences if any performance was held and led to a law and order problem.

The police action comes amid escalating protests over the game. The production of the play was interrupted and ink was thrown at Mr. Cariappa on October 31. A group of protesters also filed a complaint with the police saying the game distorts history and contains derogatory references.

Tension prevailed outside the academy in Banashankari on Monday afternoon after protesters, allegedly belonging to the Congress, confronted Mr. Cariappa while he was speaking to the media. Some protesters allegedly threw slippers at him, accusing him of spreading falsehoods and tarnishing Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy. The police intervened to prevent the situation from escalating.

Earlier in the day, a delegation of Congress workers led by Lakshman M staged a protest at the office of the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner demanding that the game be canceled and Mr. Cariappa arrested. Despite complaints from the Congress party, he said the play was staged under police protection. “It is unfortunate that this is happening under the Congress government. Party workers are starting to wonder whether Karnataka is being ruled by the Congress or the BJP,” he said.

Calling the incident unfortunate, Prakash Belawadi of the Academy said that while everyone has the right to protest, no one should take the law into their own hands. He said those who objected to a particular show should seek legal redress rather than resorting to physical attacks or disrupting the performance.

He also argued that the cancellation of the shows of comedians Munawar Faruqui and Kunal Kamra was equally wrong and stressed the need to respect artistic freedom and the right to perform.

Published – 02 Nov 2026 22:31 IST