Chandigarh: The Haryana State Commission for Women on Friday issued arrest orders against rapper and musician Badshah, whose real name is Aditya Prateek Singh Sisodia, after he failed to appear before the Commission by the stipulated deadline. The action follows complaints regarding allegedly objectionable lyrics and visuals in his recently released Haryanvi music video, Tateeree.
The Commission, chaired by Renu Bhatia, had previously issued a notice on March 6 asking Badshah to appear in Panipat regarding the song, which was accused of disrespecting women from Haryana. Bhatia warned strict action, including passport seizure, to prevent the rapper from leaving the country.
Badshah had uploaded an apology on his official Instagram account, expressing regret if the song hurt anyone’s sentiments. Despite this, the Commission directed the SP of Panipat to take immediate steps for his arrest, issuing search orders to locate him.
An FIR has already been registered in Panchkula and Jind under various provisions, including Sections 3 and 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, and Section 296 of the BNS code, following complaints about the video. The Panchkula Police also initiated a look-out circular to ensure he does not leave India and conducted continuous raids at potential locations.
Officials noted that the video depicts minor girls in school uniforms discarding their school bags and running away from studies, with lyrics like “Badshala” misrepresenting the school environment and containing derogatory expressions toward women and girls.
A lawyer representing Badshah said they had requested more time as the summons had not been formally received, and emphasized that the rapper had already apologized and removed the song from YouTube. The Commission, however, maintained that no further extensions would be allowed and reiterated its strict stance on protecting women and daughters in Haryana.
The Haryana Women Commission has also written to the National Commission for Women to ensure that Badshah does not avoid appearing before authorities anywhere in the country, highlighting the severity of the case.