'Volume 1' row: Yo Yo Honey Singh tells Delhi HC he did not sing vulgar song at 2025 concert

Singer and rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh today told the Delhi High Court that he did not sing the controversial 'Volume 1' song at a March 2025 concert, as claimed by the Hindu Shakti Dal in its petition to ban the song.

Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav has directed Honey Singh to file an affidavit with his reply to the allegations of obscenity made by Hindu Shakti Dal its petition.

On April 2, the Court had ordered a blanket ban on the song, stating that it must be ensured that even bits and pieces of the song or its lyrics never come into the public domain. 

At the time, the Court also sought a response from singers to whom the song is attributed, Honey Singh and Badshah.

Senior advocate Rajshekar Rao appeared for Honey Singh today and denied allegations that the singer had sung 'Volume 1' at the Indira Gandhi Indoors Stadium during a concert in March 2025.

“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,” he stated. 

No counsel appeared for Badshah. Therefore, the Court directed the petitioner, Hindu Shakti Dal, to file an affidavit showing proof of service of the petition on him.

The Court also directed Honey Singh to submit an affidavit with his stance on the issue.

"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."

The April 2 order to remove the controversial song from the public domain was passed after Justice Kaurav heard the song in his chambers. The judge expressed that it was a rare case where the conscience of the court was shocked to its absolute core.

The Court termed the song obscene, deeply derogatory towards women and devoid of any artistic or social value.

"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 Bench further recorded in its order.

The Court, at the time, also took note of submissions that Honey Singh had sung a few verses of the song at a recent concert. This allegation was denied by Singh today.

Senior advocate Rajshekar Rao with advocates Ishaan Mukherjee and Matrugupta Mishra appeared for Honey Singh.

Central government standing counsel Ishkaran Singh Bhandari appeared for the Centre.

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