FIR against group for not standing during national anthem in Bengaluru cinema hall

BENGALURU: Police booked a suo motu case against a group of people who allegedly did not stand up when the national anthem was being played in a cinema hall in a multiplex on October 23.
Subramanya Nagar police booked the group under Section 3 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
The video showing other movie-goers heckling the group that did not stand up for the national anthem had gone viral.“Are you Pakistani terrorists (sic),” a man was heard asking the group.
The FIR was registered by Subramanya Nagar inspector Sadananda M on the basis of the viral video.
In January 2018, the Supreme Court had modified its earlier order and made it optional for cinema halls to play the 52-second national anthem before every show. “People do not need to stand up at the cinema hall to be perceived as patriotic,” its order read.
DCP (North) Shashikumar N told TOI that they took legal opinion before taking up the case. "We had registered a Non-Cognizable Report (NCR) initially. We are investigating the circumstances to check whether there was a violation or not."