Tateeree row: Indian singer and rapper Badshah, after stirring controversy over his recently-released Haryanvi song ‘Tateeree’, received a death threat from alleged associates of the jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi on Sunday. The development follows mounting criticism from several quarters of the society, who criticised the track’s visuals and lyrics, flagging them ‘inappropriate.’

Tateeree row: Threat message goes viral online

A screenshot of the threat message posted on Facebook began making rounds on social media on Sunday. The post, shared from a Facebook account named ‘Randeep Malik Anil Pandit’, claimed affiliation with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The post made in Hindi translated to, “Singer Badshah, you tried to spoil the culture of Haryana. Earlier in 2024, we showed you a trailer at your club; this time, we will shoot you directly in the forehead.” Additionally, the post also claimed responsibility for a firing incident, which took place recently in Haryana’s Panipat. 

About ‘Tateeree’ backlash

Badshah-written Haryanvi track ‘Tateeree’ was released on March 1, 2026, which was soon embroiled in controversy, as it showed visuals of girls dressed in school uniforms inside a Haryana roadways bus while making lewd gestures. Many people also alleged that the lyrics of the song objectified minor girls and women. After the Haryana police received multiple complaints, they booked a case against the rapper. On the other hand, the Haryana State Commission for Women (SCW) also took cognisance of the incident, and issued summons to rapper Badshah. The artist, however, failed to appear by the deadline. Later, the SCW chairperson told the media that authorities concerned had been asked to initiate legal proceedings against Badshah, including seizure of his passport to prevent him from leaving the country.

Singer issued public apology a day after FIR

A day after the Haryana police registered an FIR against Badshah, he issued a public apology via Instagram. In the video message posted online, he said he had no intention of hurting public sentiments. Furthermore, he confirmed that the track had been withdrawn from all digital platforms.