Gurugram: Haryana Police have acted against rapper Badshah, initiating the process to issue a lookout circular (LOC) against him Saturday, to prevent him from leaving the country. The Haryanvi singer has caused much outrage with his song ‘Tateeree’, which allegedly depicts schoolgirls in an objectionable manner and contains derogatory references to women.
The Panchkula Cyber Police Station had registered an FIR on 6 March against the singer, whose real name is Aditya Prateek Singh Sisodia, under Section 296 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 3 and 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.
The police have constituted multiple teams to arrest him and have had the song removed from his official YouTube channel. Notices have been issued to other platforms to take the video down as well; a spokesperson of the Haryana Police told ThePrint Saturday afternoon.
The FIR is based on a complaint filed by Abhay Chaudhary, a resident of Chandimandir, who alleged the music video, released on Badshah’s official YouTube channel on 1 March and which had crossed 5 million views before its removal, contained abusive language, offensive gestures, and scenes featuring girls in school uniforms throwing away their school bags.
Police said the complaint also stated that the use of the word “Badshala”, a distortion of “pathshala (school)”, portrayed the school environment negatively.
A formal notice has been issued directing Badshah to appear before the police immediately.
Meanwhile, rapper Badshah on Saturday apologised for what he called a misunderstanding over the lyrics and visuals of his new song “Teteeree”. In a video message released on Saturday, Badshah said: “The lyrics in question were meant to put down my competitors and not at all meant for women or Haryanavi women for that matter.”
Bus from Jind depot, govt school premises under scrutiny
The police spokesperson revealed that the investigation has also turned to two locations shown in the video. Also, he said the video features a Haryana Roadways bus from the Jind depot and police are investigating if this was done with permission from the transport department. If the visuals were used without permission, those responsible could face action under Section 61 of the BNS (criminal conspiracy).
Similarly, premises of a government school were used for the shooting of the video, and police said they are verifying if permission was taken. Action against responsible individuals would follow if the premises were found to have been used without permission.
A controversy that had been building
The FIR and the LOC move come a day after the Haryana State Commission for Women summoned Badshah to appear before it on 13 March, with a hearing scheduled at the DC office conference hall in Panipat.
The commission took cognisance of the matter after receiving complaints that the song’s lyrics were indecent and violated social boundaries.
Among those who had filed complaints were Savita Arya of the Nari Tu Narayani Utthan Samiti in Panipat, Shiv Kumar of the Shiv Aarti Foundation, and lawyer Rajnarayan Panghal of Rohtak, who had also approached the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
All three objected to the lyric “Aaya Badshah doli chadhaane, in sabki ghodi banaane (Badshah has arrived to take the bride away, to make mares of them),” arguing it had a sexually suggestive innuendo and was disrespectful to women.
The track blends contemporary rap with regional Haryanvi folk influences and was released through Badshah’s official YouTube channel earlier this month.
The song features vocalist Simran Jaglan, with music produced by Hiten and the video was directed by Mahi Sandhu and Joban Sandhu.
Haryana Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda had Friday stated that the state government had taken serious note of the matter and described the portrayal of schoolgirls in the video as unacceptable.
Police said action would also be taken against individuals found sharing reels or clips from the song on social media.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
Also read: Haryana women’s panel summons rapper Badshah over ‘Tateeree’ song; FIR lodged but doesn’t name him