The Delhi High Court heard proceedings regarding the controversial song Volume 1, where singer and rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh denied performing the track during a March 2025 concert at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.
The Delhi High Court heard proceedings concerning the controversial song Volume 1, during which singer and rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh denied that he performed the track at a concert in March 2025 held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Delhi.
The dispute stems from a petition filed by Hindu Shakti Dal, which sought a complete ban on the song on grounds of obscenity and an allegedly derogatory portrayal of women.
The matter is being heard by Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav. On April 2, the Court had passed an interim direction requiring the song to be removed entirely from the public domain. It had also ordered that no excerpts or lyrics snippets should be circulated publicly while the case was pending.
At the hearing, senior advocate Rajshekar Rao, appearing for Honey Singh, categorically rejected the allegations that the rapper performed “Volume 1” at the March concert.
Referring to the claims made in the petition, counsel submitted to the Court,
“This stigma has to go. This is the subject matter of a proceedings in Maharashtra where I have filed a statement. I have gone in public to state that I have not sung this song. I am here to assist the court to ensure that this content goes off. No such event happened. I did not sing.”
The Court noted the submission and directed Honey Singh to file his stand on record through a sworn affidavit.
Justice Kaurav remarked,
“Mr Rao takes the position that no such incident as has been alleged on March 1, 2025, had taken place. Let all those aspects be stated in the affidavit to resolve the controversy.”
Background of the controversy:
The controversy deepened after, in earlier proceedings, the Court had personally listened to the track in chambers. The Bench had then expressed serious concern about the lyrics, observing that the song crossed acceptable legal and moral limits.
The song “Volume 1” was released around two decades ago and had become very popular, but it also faced heavy criticism for its explicit lyrics and alleged misogyny. The song has also been part of a long-running dispute between Honey Singh and Badshah, who were once part of the Mafia Mundeer group. Badshah had earlier accused Honey Singh of sidelining other collaborators and taking undue credit, while Honey Singh denied these allegations.
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The Court indicated that, in its view, the song lacked artistic value and contained language offensive and degrading towards women.
Earlier, the Delhi High Court passed a strict order directing the Central government, social media platforms, and music streaming platforms to block the controversial and explicit song “Volume 1” linked to singers Yo Yo Honey Singh and Badshah. The Court said that the song must be removed completely from the internet and even small clips or lyrics from the song should not be available to the public on any platform.
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav passed a blanket ban on the song and made it clear that the authorities must ensure complete removal of the content from all social media and online platforms. The Court took a very serious view of the lyrics and content of the song and said that such material cannot be allowed in a civilised society.
In its earlier order, the Court had recorded,
“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.”
Justice Kaurav also informed that he had personally listened to the song in his chambers and said that this was an extremely serious matter. The Court observed that this was one of the rare cases where the content of a song had shocked the conscience of the Court. The judge said it is one of the rarest cases where the conscience of the court was shocked to its absolute core.
The Court had also previously noted allegations that Honey Singh had sung parts of the controversial track during a recent live performance. However, during Thursday’s hearing, those allegations were denied by Singh’s counsel.
No counsel appeared on behalf of Badshah, who has also been named in connection with the song. In light of this, the Court directed the petitioner organization to file an affidavit confirming proper service of notice on him before further proceedings proceed.
The case is expected to continue after both parties file affidavits clarifying their positions regarding the song, its circulation, and the allegations of the alleged public performance.
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