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Published 14:49 IST, January 17th 2025

Cruel, Villainous: 5 Nandamuri Balakrishna Fans Booked For Animal Sacrifice As 'Celebration' For Daaku Maharaaj Release

An FIR was registered against five Balakrishna fans under sections 325 & 270 for the beheading of a goat for the Daaku Maharaaj release.

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PETA Takes Action Against NBK Fans
PETA Takes Action Against NBK Fans | Image: X

Nandamuri Balakrishna’s latest movie Daaku Maharaaj was released on January 12 and got a grand welcome from his fans. The film has been thriving at the box office ever since. However, in a troubling incident, authorities filed an FIR against a group of Balakrishna's fans for ritualistically beheading a goat to celebrate the film's release. The action comes after the premiere video went viral.

Balakrishna fans behead goat to celebrate Daaku Maharaaj release, FIR filed

An FIR has been registered for the beheading of a goat by fans of Nandamuri Balakrishna for the movie release of Daaku Maharaaj. This comes after PETA India filed a complaint upon learning that a group of men beheaded a goat for superstitious reasons to support the movie's release. PETA India worked with senior police officials of Tirupati district to register the FIR. The goat was killed outside Pratap Movie Theatre in Tata Nagar, Tirupati on January 12. The FIR was registered against five identified persons under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Andhra Pradesh Animals and Birds Sacrifices (Prohibition) Act, and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Nandamuri Balakrishna’s latest movie Daaku Maharaaj poster | Image: X

The fir was registered against five identified persons under sections 325 & 270, read with 3(5) of the Bharatiya nyaya sanhita, 2023; sections 4 & 5, read with 6 & 8 of the Andhra Pradesh animals and birds sacrifices (prohibition) act, 1950; and sections 3, 11(1)(a) and 11(1)(l) of the prevention of cruelty to animals act 1960.

As per Republic sources, PETA India cruelty response coordinator Saloni Sakaria, “Killing an animal and smearing their blood on a poster doesn't make you a super fan—it makes you a villain and a criminal. True fans celebrate their favourite stars with movie tickets and supportive social media posts, not with acts of violence or cruelty,” says

How did PETA know about the incident?

Since 12 January, a video depicting a cruel incident has circulated widely on social media. An FIR was filed on the evening of 16 January after a head constable from Tirupati East Police Station reported the offence.

PETA India stated that the video reveals men surrounding a terrified goat. It shows the goat, fully conscious, being beheaded with a machete in full public view. Another scene depicts a man smearing the goat's blood on a movie poster.

With inputs from Aneri Shah

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Updated 18:32 IST, January 17th 2025