Singer booked on charges of defacement over pasting ‘violent’ poster near college
SANGRUR:IN what is being seen as action against glorification of violence in Punjabi songs, budding singer Rocky Bhatti was on Wednesday booked on charges of defacing public property and a poster of his new song — showing him and two others, one of them holding a gun — was taken down from near Government Ranbir College.
The lyrics of the song, written too by Bhatti, are, “Ho gayi vaardat, lagi 302 aa; vekhin kal wala akhbar khol ke (An incident has taken place and section 302 [murder charge] has been imposed; do read tomorrow’s newspaper.)”
So far, only Bhatti has been named and “will be arrested soon”, said senior superintendent of police Mandeep Singh Sidhu over the poster with “violent content”.
Inspector Vinod Kumar, station house officer, said, “We will also probe the producers, and more persons can be booked, including those seen in the poster.”
The poster features photos of seven other men.
This comes days after the state’s director general of police directed all SSPS to meet singers in their areas and appeal against lyrics promoting liquor and violence. SSP Sidhu further said, “The poster was deliberately installed near a college to attract the youth; that too without any permission.”
The case is under section 3 of Punjab Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, which entails a maximum jail term of six months .