New Delhi, May 9 (H.S.): Avinash Dugar, the CEO of the Ullu app presenting obscene content, and Priyanka Chaurasia, the operations head, appeared before the Chairperson of the National Women’s Commission, Vijaya Rahatkar, on Friday. The chairperson reminded them of their moral and social responsibility as content creators and asked, what would happen if such obscene content reached your own children?
During the hearing at the commission's headquarters, Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar stated that there is a blurred line between entertainment and exploitation, and the show House Arrest is a clear example of that. It promotes the exploitation of women under the guise of entertainment.
The commission expressed deep concern over the app's general content profile, which appears to glorify obscenity, the objectification of women, and soft pornography — all of which can have a devastating psychological impact on young, impressionable minds.
It was noted that not only House Arrest, but many other programs on the Ullu app display extremely disturbing and degrading content, prompting the commission to consider serious regulatory action, including a recommendation for an outright ban on the platform.
The commission also mentioned that the platform could be in gross violation of legal provisions, as it has deliberately disseminated obscene and sexual material through its digital distribution.
The chairperson instructed the platform to present a comprehensive impact assessment report on the social implications of such content and to outline corrective measures to prevent the spread of sexually explicit and exploitative material.
Despite being summoned, Ajaz Khan did not appear before the commission on Friday. Taking this seriously, the commission has issued a second notice, which will now be sent through police officials.
The Women’s Commission issued a notice to the management of the OTT platform Ullu app and host Ajaz Khan of its program House Arrest in light of concerning highly obscene and degrading content targeting women. The commission, taking cognizance of the matter, expressed serious concerns over the increasing culture of anti-women narratives in digital media that presents women as objects.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
