Gurugram: It took multiple FIRs, an arrest order, a passport seizure threat, police interrogation in Panchkula and a summons from the National Commission for Women (NCW) for rapper Badshah to submit a written apology for his Haryanvi track Tateeree, and on Tuesday, he finally did.
The rap song, released on 1 March, had landed in trouble over objectionable lyrics about women and minors.
Aditya Prateek Singh Sisodia, known professionally as Badshah, appeared before the NCW in New Delhi Tuesday and submitted an unconditional written apology for the song which had set off a sustained backlash across Haryana. With him were directors Joban Sandhu and Mahavir Singh, and producer Hiten. The NCW communicated the same through an official release.
NCW chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar, who presided over the hearing, said the lyrics and presentation of the song had hurt the dignity and decency of women and directed those present not to repeat such conduct.
Badshah told the commission he would work for the uplift of women and society, submit a positive song on women’s empowerment within four months, and not engage in any such activity in the future. He also committed to sponsoring the education of 50 girls from the economically weaker sections.
Although the NCW release did not specify the age group of girls who would be educated, the phrase “50 baalikayen” (50 young girls) in Hindi refers to school-going girls.
Tateeree, released on Badshah’s official YouTube channel, features the voice of Simran Jaglan, a boxer from Kaithal and daughter of Haryanvi singer Karmbir Fauji.
A complaint filed by one Abhay Chaudhary at Panchkula alleged that the song contains objectionable words and scenes. It shows girls in uniform in a school-like setting referred to as “Badshala”—a play on the word “paathshala” or classroom. The complainant stated that certain lyrics had been used in a sexually suggestive manner alongside visuals of schoolgirls.
Separate FIRs were registered in Panchkula and Jind against the song. Officials from the Haryana roadways department in the second FIR lodged at Jind alleged that a state transport bus shown in the video was used without authorisation. And a scene filmed at a government school in Sachha Khera village in Jind triggered further controversy, with authorities claiming no permission had been granted for the shoot.
Panchkula Cyber Police Station registered an FIR under Section 296 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 3 and 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, and had the song removed from the official YouTube channel.
The police also initiated the process for a Look Out Circular against Badshah to prevent him from leaving the country. The Haryana State Commission for Women then ordered Badshah’s arrest and sought seizure of his passport after he failed to personally appear following a summons in Panipat.
He subsequently joined the Panchkula police investigation three weeks ago and was let off, as all charges against him were bailable.
The NCW took suo motu cognisance of the matter, observing that the content prima facie appeared to be objectionable and violative of provisions under the BNS, Information Technology Act and Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act.
Following the row, on 7 March, Badshah in a video message said the lyrics in question were meant to put down his competitors and were not directed at women or Haryanvi women. He said he himself was a Haryanvi and could never think of using derogatory words for the people of the state or its women.
His appearance before the NCW appears to close the chapter at the national level. However, the FIRs against him remain pending.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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