Haryana women’s panel orders arrest of Badshah over ‘Tateeree’ controversy

New Delhi: The Haryana State Commission for Women has ordered the arrest of rapper Badshah after he failed to appear before the panel regarding his Haryanvi music video Tateeree. The commission had earlier issued a notice asking him to appear in Panipat by 3 pm on Friday, but he did not attend, prompting strict action.

Commission chairperson Renu Bhatia instructed authorities to arrest Badshah “from anywhere, any place” and directed that his passport be seized to prevent him from leaving the country. She emphasised that the commission had already warned of strict action if he failed to comply.

Police have registered FIRs in Panchkula and Jind under Sections 3 and 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, and Section 296 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The FIRs cite allegedly obscene lyrics and visuals that insult women, including scenes showing minor girls in school uniforms discarding their school bags and language misrepresenting the school environment.

In response, Badshah posted an apology on Instagram, expressing regret if the song hurt anyone’s sentiments. His legal team said they had requested additional time to appear before the commission, stating that the summons had not been received earlier. They submitted an authority letter on his behalf. The music video has since been removed from YouTube, and police have begun the process of issuing a look-out circular to prevent him from leaving the country.

Social media personality Santy Sharma publicly supported Badshah, explaining that in hip-hop, lyrics often reference competitors and that audio and video production are separate processes. Sharma noted that many listeners in India may not fully understand the genre and urged that judgment should consider the broader artistic context.

The case is ongoing, and the allegations remain unproven. A final verdict has not yet been reached.