A request by Hirdesh Singh — the rapper and music producer who performs under the name Yo Yo Honey Singh — to appear before the Maharashtra Cyber Cell on October 22 was not granted. A notice requiring his attendance at the Cell has been issued, with October 16 set as the date.
A complaint lodged with the Maharashtra Cyber Cell — centring on remarks Honey Singh allegedly made from the stage during a live performance — led authorities to issue the summons. A formal complaint was filed with Maharashtra Cyber after remarks Honey Singh made during a live show drew objections from an attendee.
Maharashtra Cyber officials noted that three separate summonses were issued to Honey Singh, none of which he attended. His stated reason for not attending was that he had been travelling outside the country at the time.
Honey Singh has been called in by investigators for another round of questioning, according to people familiar with the matter. A request for more time to appear before the investigating officer was put forward by Honey Singh to Maharashtra Cyber, following his absence from the scheduled questioning on 5 October.
Maharashtra Cyber's senior officer noted that another no-show by Honey Singh could set in motion the steps needed to place him under a Look Out Circular.
A notice from Maharashtra Cyber required his attendance before department officials, tied to a complaint lodged over remarks he allegedly made at a concert that were deemed objectionable. The complaint states that words delivered by the rapper during his set led the complainant to file a report with authorities, after which Maharashtra Cyber served him a notice to appear for questioning. Honey Singh was not present when investigators called for his appearance. Investigators have yet to release additional information, and the inquiry into the matter continues.
A petition lodged by Hindu Shakti Dal, contending that Honey Singh had performed a song deemed objectionable at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in 2025, prompted the Delhi High Court to order the singer to submit an affidavit earlier that month in May. A ruling handed down by the Delhi High Court on 2 April instructed the Central Government to remove all online links associated with Honey Singh's song Volume 1 from social media and content-sharing platforms.
In a ruling on the song, the Delhi High Court determined that its content crossed into territory incompatible with constitutional protections for artistic expression and free speech, citing what the bench characterised as material demeaning to women. According to the petitioner's account, the track in question came out in 2006 as a collaboration between Honey Singh and Badshah.
At an April 2 hearing, the bench characterised the song as containing content that demeans women and falls below accepted standards of decency. In court proceedings, advocate Rupali Panwar contended that the song carries explicit content and can be accessed through various social media platforms.
Removal from all platforms where the track currently circulates — including video-hosting and file-sharing services — has been put forward as a protective measure. A submission before the court placed Honey Singh at a public concert held inside Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on 1 March 2025, where he reportedly performed two lines drawn from the song in question.
