Badshah's ‘Tateeree’ controversy deepens: Rapper summoned by NCW over vulgarity allegations

The controversy around rapper-singer Badshah’s Haryanvi track Tateeree is getting bigger with each passing day, and now it has reached the National Commission for Women (NCW). The Commission has taken note of the matter on its own and has called the singer along with others linked to the song to appear before it later this month. The case is already under legal and public scrutiny in multiple states.

NCW steps in, issues summons

The National Commission for Women said it has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports that raised concerns over the song’s content. According to India Today, in its official statement, the body said the material in the track appears problematic at first glance and may be in violation of several laws.

“The National Commission for Women, in exercise of its powers under the NCW Act, 1990, has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports alleging obscenity and vulgarity in the song ‘Tattiri / Tatihari’,” the Commission said. It further added, “The Commission has observed that the content prima facie appears to be objectionable and violative of provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Information Technology Act, and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.”


Summons have been issued to Badshah, whose real name is Aditya Prateek Singh Sisodia, along with director Mahi Sandhu, co-director Joban Sandhu, and producer Hiten. They have been asked to appear before the Commission on March 25, 2026, at 12:30 pm with relevant documents. The NCW has also warned that failure to appear may lead to legal action.

What is the Tateeree controversy

The controversy around Tateeree, released on March 1, started after allegations that the song featured vulgar lyrics and visuals that objectify women. Some scenes in the music video reportedly show girls in school uniforms dancing inside a Haryana Roadways bus with suggestive gestures, which led to strong reactions online. There were also claims that minors were depicted in a sexualised way, which further added to the criticism. What began as a backlash in Haryana soon spread to other states as well.

As the outrage grew, legal trouble for the singer also increased. Reportedly, multiple FIRs were filed in districts such as Panchkula, Jind and Panipat under laws related to obscenity and indecent representation of women, and a lookout circular was issued to stop him from leaving the country.

Song taken down, Badshah responds

Amid the backlash, the song was removed from YouTube after an FIR was filed. Responding to the controversy, Badshah issued a video statement on March 7 where he expressed regret over the situation.

He said he did not intend to offend women or children and explained that the lyrics were part of hip-hop’s competitive style. He also mentioned that he takes pride in being Haryanvi and wanted to represent the culture. In the same message, he apologised and said the video had been removed from all platforms.