CHANDIGARH: The Haryana State Commission for Women has ordered the arrest of rapper-musician Aditya Prateek Singh Sisodia, popularly known as Badshah, after he failed to appear before it by the stipulated deadline in connection with alleged objectionable lyrics and visuals in his Haryanvi music video “Tateeree”. Commission chairperson Renu Bhatia said strict action would follow if the rapper did not appear before the panel by 3pm on Friday. The commission had issued a notice to Badshah on March 6 asking him to appear in Panipat over allegations that the song contained objectionable language. Speaking to reporters in Panipat, Bhatia said she had directed the police to arrest the singer. “I have ordered SP Panipat to get Badshah arrested from anywhere, any place and issue search orders,” she said. She added that she had also asked authorities to seize his passport so that he cannot leave the country. Bhatia said Badshah had been asked to appear before the commission on March 13 regarding the song “in which Haryana daughters have been insulted with inappropriate words and language”. According to her, FIRs have already been registered in Panchkula and Jind in connection with the song. She also said that a request has been sent to the National Commission for Women (NCW) to ensure that none of Badshah’s shows are allowed to take place anywhere in the country. “Women’s commissions are there to protect daughters and have to give them an environment where they become officers, teachers, engineers and doctors. If anyone raises an eye towards her, the Commission will take stern action,” Bhatia said. A lawyer representing Badshah told reporters in Panipat that they had brought an authority letter from the rapper and sought more time as the summons had not been received. The lawyer said Badshah had apologised if anyone’s sentiments were hurt and that the song had been removed from YouTube. “Under the law, everyone has the right to present their side. But here that is not being given,” the lawyer said. Badshah had earlier uploaded a video on his official Instagram account apologising if the song had hurt anyone’s sentiments. Meanwhile, Panchkula police had begun the process of issuing a look-out circular against the rapper to prevent him from leaving the country, a day after he was booked over the alleged objectionable lyrics and visuals in the music video. Police had also issued a notice asking him to appear before them immediately. Several police teams have been formed and raids are being carried out at multiple locations to trace him, according to a statement issued by Haryana Police. The FIR, registered on March 6 on a complaint filed by a Panchkula resident, invokes 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. In a statement earlier, Panchkula police said the video depicts minor girls in school uniforms throwing away their school bags and appearing to run away from studies. “The use of words such as ‘Badshala’ in the song has also been found to depict the school environment and education in a misleading and inappropriate manner. Furthermore, objectionable and derogatory expressions towards women and girls have also been identified in the lyrics,” the police said.
