Case on singer for kissing reality show contestant

A harassment complaint has been filed against bollywood singer Papon after the video in which he is kissing a reality show contestant gone viral.

His actual name is Angarag Mahanta, but known by his stagename Papon. He is a singer, composer and record producer from Assam. He is the lead singer and founder of the folk-fusion band called Papon. His discography includes films like Tubelight, Sultan, Special 26, Madras Cafe, Barfi, Dum Maaro Dum. Papon is currently one of the judges on Voice India Kids 2018 along with singers Shaan and Himmesh Reshammiya.

On Tuesday, he went live on his Facebook page. During the Holi celebration with contestants of this music reality show he is judging, he is seen “inappropriately kissing” a minor girl who is participant in the show. As the event was in livestream, netizens shocked to see the incident. In the video that has gone viral, Papon is seen applying colour to a contestant’s face and kissing on her lips and this left the minor girl in shock.

Supreme Court lawyer Runa Bhuyan filed a complaint with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights against Papon under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) Act. “I am shocked to see the behaviour of the said singer Angarag Papon Mahanta towards a minor girl where he is seen to be applying colors on a minor girl and inappropriately kissing the said girl. On seeing the video, I am seriously concerned regarding the safety and security of minor girl participating in reality shows across India,” her complaint said. She also suggested that guidelines need to be set up to protect children from “such assaults” in reality shows.