Haryana Women’s panel orders Badshah arrest; Action over ‘Objectionable’ Tateeree song

The Haryana State Commission for Women has ordered the arrest of rapper Badshah after he failed to appear before the panel regarding alleged objectionable lyrics in his song. Reportedly Badshah was asked to appear before the commission in connection with his recently released Haryanvi music video Tateeree. The commission had earlier issued a notice asking the rapper to appear before it in Panipat by 3 pm on Friday. However, after he did not attend the hearing, the panel decided to take strict action.Reports from PTI says that Commission chairperson Renu Bhatia said that the authorities have been instructed to take immediate steps against the rapper. Speaking to reporters in Panipat, she said, “I have ordered SP Panipat to get Badshah arrested from anywhere, any place and issue search orders.” She further directed that his passport should be seized to prevent him from leaving the country. Renu Bhatia also mentioned that the commission had warned earlier that strict action would follow if the rapper did not appear before the panel within the stipulated time. Police have already registered an FIR in connection with the song. According to officials, cases have been filed in Panchkula and Jind. The FIR includes charges under Sections 3 and 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 and Section 296 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to obscene acts and songs. Police said the music video allegedly contains objectionable lyrics and visuals that insult women and girls. Authorities also raised concerns about scenes depicting minor girls wearing school uniforms and throwing away their school bags. Officials claimed that certain words used in the song present the school environment and education in a misleading manner.Amid the controversy, Badshah shared a video on his official Instagram handle apologising if the song hurt anyone’s sentiments. According to his legal representative, the rapper’s team had approached the commission seeking additional time to appear. The lawyer said the summons had not been received earlier and that the team had submitted an authority letter on behalf of the singer. Speaking to reporters, the lawyer said, “Under the law, everyone has the right to present their side. But here that is not being given.” He also confirmed that the music video had been removed from YouTube. Meanwhile, police had begun the process to issue a look-out circular against the rapper to prevent him from leaving the country.Badshah received public support from social media personality Santy Sharma. Sharma shared a photo of the rapper on Instagram and discussed the nature of hip-hop. He wrote, "Rap music is a genre where rappers write lines about their competitors as references. A song's audio can be created long before the video. The video team is separate, and even major artists like Badshah may not even know their video will be like this. A major drawback to Badshah and other artists emerging in India today is the lack of knowledge among listeners in India about this hip-hop art form. If a lyric in a song is incorrect, the lyrics should be updated or changed, but the way Badshah is being judged without understanding the full story is wrong. Sorry, if anyone hurted from this post but this is the reality."Disclaimer: The information in this report is based on a legal hearing as reported by a third-party source. The details provided represent allegations made by the parties involved and are not proven facts. The case is ongoing, and a final verdict has not been reached. The publication does not claim that the allegations are true.