Maharashtra Women's Commission, Hindu Groups Demand Ban On Ullu Show 'House Arrest' Over Obscene Content

The Maharashtra State Commission for Women and Hindu organisations have complained to the police and producers of the show 'House Arrest' on OTT platform Ullu, asking them to stop the telecast of the 'immoral' programme. Rupali Chakankar, president of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women, in her letter to the state police, said the host of the show, Ejaz Khan, asks participants obscene questions, encouraging women to remove their clothes. Such videos are coming to the fore through social media.

Due to strong reaction from the public, the Maharashtra State Commission for Women has taken cognisance of the matter on its own initiative, said Chakankar. Chakankar said that under Section 10(1) (f) (a) 3 (2) of the Office of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women Act, 1993, the Maharashtra State Commission for Women is empowered to receive complaints of women for consideration and to take cognisance of the matter. She called for a ban on the show's broadcast and added that the producers should be prosecuted under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prevention) Act, 1986.

The Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and Sanatan Sena have said that the show's content has caused outrage among the public. "Bajrang Dal warns you to immediately pull down your immoral porn show House Arrest and even ensure to stop showcasing pornographic contents on your platform which is posing a big danger to the social fabric of our society," said the letter from Mohan Salekar, Konkan Division minister, VHP, and Gautam Ravaria, co-convener, Bajrang Dal.

The Sanatan Sena said the show presents a bad image of Indian culture and hurts the youth, with its use of obscene images. Surjit Singh, national president of Sanatan Sena, said India's combined sum of various subcultures constitutes Indian culture. The organisation has asked for punitive action against the channel and its host for insulting Indian culture. Ullu did not respond to calls and emails from this newspaper for a comment.