In a significant development before the Delhi High Court on Thursday, popular rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh formally distanced himself from the controversial 2006 track ‘Vol. 1’. Singh told the court that he did not sing the song, which has long been the subject of criticism for its “vulgar” and “derogatory” lyrics, and expressed a desire to clear his name of the “stigma” associated with the track.
The hearing, presided over by Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, follows a petition filed by the Hindu Shakti Dal. The group is seeking the immediate removal of the song from major online platforms, including YouTube and Spotify, citing its provocative and objectionable content regarding women.
During the proceedings, Singh’s counsel emphasized that the rapper is eager to assist the court in ensuring the content is taken down. “This is an opportunity for me to make sure that this stigma goes because this is not mine,” Singh’s counsel stated on his behalf.
The defense further clarified that this is a consistent legal position for the artist, noting that similar proceedings are currently pending in a Nagpur court where Singh has maintained the same stance.
The legal battle also touched upon recent allegations regarding a live performance. The petitioners claimed that Singh had performed verses of ‘Vol. 1’ during an event at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Delhi on March 1, 2025.
Singh’s legal team categorically denied these claims, asserting that no such event took place. “I did not sing. If something like this has happened in a stadium where there are 50,000 plus people, there must be one video clip of this,” the counsel argued, pointing to the lack of digital evidence for such a high-profile gathering.
The Delhi High Court had previously expressed serious concerns regarding the track, which was allegedly released as an “underground” collaboration under the ‘Mafia Mundeer’ banner involving Singh and fellow rapper Badshah. On April 2, the court took a “strong exception” to the song, stating it disregarded minimum standards of civility.
The song has garnered millions of views across social media through various user uploads, despite its controversial nature. The petitioner argues that as celebrities with massive fan bases, both Honey Singh and Badshah should take responsibility for the track’s impact and issue a public apology.
Terming the matter “serious,” Justice Kaurav has directed Honey Singh to file a formal affidavit clearly stating his position on the matter. Additionally, the petitioner has been asked to file an affidavit of service of notice to rapper Badshah, who is also named in the case.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for May 19, where it will further examine the affidavits and the demands for the song’s permanent removal from digital streaming services.
