Delhi High Court Orders Removal Of 'Volume 1' Song By Honey Singh, Badshah: 'Grossly Vulgar, Obscene'

The Delhi High Court on Thursday (April 2) ordered the immediate takedown of rappers Honey Singh and Badshah's controversial song Volume 1, which was released under the name of the Mafia Mundeer group. The court observed that the song is grossly vulgar, obscene, derogatory towards women, and lacks artistic or social values.

The Court ordered the Central government, social media intermediaries and music platforms to ensure that the explicit song is blocked on all platforms.

Delhi HC orders removal of Volume 1 song

Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav ordered the blanket ban on the song,  reported Bar and Bench.

“In whatever forms this song is available on social media platforms, it has to be taken down is clearly the opinion. No one can deny this. We cannot allow even the slightest of it to be on social media,” the Court said in its order.

Justice Kaurav also said that he had heard the song in his office, and it is one of the rarest cases where the "conscience of the court is shocked to its absolute core".

"The lyrics are not only offensive, but they are ex facie dehumanising and try to normalise the treatment of women as objects of ridicule and sexual gratification," the Court added.

The controversy sparked after Honey Singh recently sang a few verses of the song in his Mumbai concert. The Court issued notice to Singh and Badshah and ordered them to remove the songs from their social media handles and other platforms as well.

The order comes after the Hindu Shakti Dal filed a petition in the Court. 

About Volume 1 song controversy

Volume 1 was released around two decades ago. Despite gaining popularity, the controversial song faced severe backlash for its lewd lyrics and alleged misogyny. There were also legal complaints and public protests across the country.

Earlier, in an interview with Raj Shamani, Honey Singh denied singing Volume 1 and Volume 2 songs.