Badshah’s ‘Tateeree’ Pulled from YouTube After Haryana FIR
Badshah’s Haryanvi track ‘Tateeree’ removed from YouTube after FIR in Haryana over alleged obscene lyrics and visuals involving schoolgirls. Women’s panel summons singer.
Popular Indian rapper Badshah faces escalating legal and public scrutiny after his latest Haryanvi music video “Tateeree” was taken down from YouTube following a formal police complaint in Haryana. The development marks the second major controversy for the artist in recent weeks, coming shortly after he was denied entry to London’s O2 Arena ahead of his scheduled headline performance.
On Friday, the Cyber Crime Police Station in Panchkula registered an FIR against Badshah based on a complaint lodged by a local resident. The FIR invokes Sections 3 and 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, along with Section 296 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which addresses obscene acts and songs. According to the complainant, the music video — released on Badshah’s official YouTube channel — features young women dressed in school uniforms within a setting referred to as “Badshala,” a purported play on the Hindi word “pathshala” (school). The petitioner argued that the lyrics and imagery are indecent, objectify women, and risk sending harmful messages to society, particularly impressionable children and adolescents.
Haryana authorities acted swiftly on the complaint. YouTube removed the video following police intervention, though the platform has not issued a public statement detailing the specific trigger for the takedown. The song’s visuals, including scenes inside what appears to be a school environment and the use of a Haryana Roadways bus, have drawn particular criticism for allegedly trivialising educational spaces and exploiting schoolgirl imagery for commercial appeal.
The Haryana State Commission for Women has also intervened. Chairperson Renu Bhatia confirmed that the commission has issued a summons to Badshah, requiring him to appear before the body on March 13 to provide explanations regarding the creative intent behind the lyrics and visuals. “We are examining whether the content violates dignity and safety norms for women and girls,” Bhatia stated, emphasising the commission’s role in addressing representations that could perpetuate harmful stereotypes.
BJP leader and former Haryana minister Mahipal Dhanda publicly condemned the music video, describing the portrayal of schoolgirls as “unacceptable” and reflective of a distorted depiction of Haryanvi culture. Dhanda revealed that the state government has directed officials to investigate whether proper permissions were obtained to feature a Haryana Roadways bus in the video. Authorities have been tasked with tracing the depot to which the vehicle belongs, with potential disciplinary action pending against the driver and conductor if protocol violations are confirmed.
Badshah has not yet issued a formal public response to the FIR, summons, or video removal. Representatives for the artist were not immediately available for comment. The controversy unfolds against the backdrop of growing scrutiny over lyrics and visuals in regional music videos, particularly in Haryana and neighbouring states where cultural sensitivities around women’s portrayal remain heightened.
“Tateeree” was promoted as a high-energy Haryanvi track blending contemporary hip-hop elements with folk influences, consistent with Badshah’s recent exploration of regional sounds. However, the swift backlash highlights the fine line artists navigate when fusing modern aesthetics with traditional or institutional settings. The use of school uniforms and educational motifs has been flagged in past cases as potentially exploitative, prompting calls for greater accountability in content creation.
As the March 13 appearance before the Women’s Commission approaches, the case is likely to draw wider attention to the balance between artistic expression and societal responsibility in Indian music. For Badshah, whose international profile has risen sharply with upcoming global shows, the episode serves as a reminder of the regional legal and cultural frameworks that continue to shape creative boundaries in India. Whether the matter escalates to court proceedings or resolves through dialogue remains to be seen, but the removal of “Tateeree” underscores the immediate impact of public complaints and institutional intervention in the digital music space.
