Amid speculations of popular Kannada actor Kichcha Sudeep joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday, 5 April, Karnataka police said that he allegedly received a threat letter. Meanwhile, the actor said that he will not contest elections on a BJP ticket but will campaign for friends.
BJP sources say the actor could campaign for the party in the upcoming Assembly election.
According to the police, the letter was received by Jack Manju, Sudeep's manager, from an known person, who had allegedly threatened to release a "private video" of the actor on social media.
A case has been lodged into the matter under Sections 504, 506, and 120 (B) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Sudeep also confirmed the news of the threat letter and said that he knew who sent it. "Yes, I have received a threat letter and I know who sent it to me. I know it is from someone in the film industry. I will give a befitting reply to them. I will work in favour of those who stand by my side in my tough times," he said while addressing the press.
Sudeep was reportedly going to join the BJP on Wednesday along with another actor, Darshan Thoogudeepa, in the presence of Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.
Though he didn't formally join the party, he pledged "full support" to the Bommai government.
There had been speculation over the last few days regarding the actors' plunge into politics. He had earlier said that he received several offers from political parties in the past, but had not yet made up his mind.
Sudeep was also in the news after he was appointed as the Karnataka government's brand ambassador for the Punyakoti Dattu Yojana scheme, which involves cattle adoption.
The actor had said that he will adopt 31 cows under the scheme – one from each district of the state, Hindustan Times reported.
(With inputs from Hindustan Times.)
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