Child Rights Body Seeks Action Against Ullu App, Says ‘Extremely Obscene And Objectionable’ Content

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has urged the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to take action against OTT platform Ullu.

The child rights panel has further sought a response from the ministry within 10 days.

In a letter to the ministry on February 27, NCPCR Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo said that the ‘Ullu’ application, available on both the Play Store and the iOS, contains “extremely obscene and objectionable” content, which is accessible even to children.

The commission has requested MeitY to take action against Google and Apple and also urged the ministry to mandate stringent KYC norms for users accessing Ullu and similar apps on the marketplace.

“The Commission has received a complaint from gems of Bollywood alleging that the ‘Ullu App’, accessible on both Play Store and iOS mobile platforms, contains extremely obscene and objectionable content secretively to its subscribers, including children. The App is easily accessible on Google and Apple and does not seem to have any KYC requirement for downloading or viewing any content it makes available to its private group,” news agency ANI quoted the letter sent by NCPCR to Meity.

Alleging that there are specific shows that target school kids with explicit sexual scenes and plotlines, NCPCR said, “It has further been alleged that there are specific shows that target school kids with explicit sexual scenes and plotlines. Screenshots of one of the shows have also been annexed by the complainant where sexual intercourse has been depicted between the school children. A copy of the complaint is enclosed which is self-explanatory.”

“It has been observed that these applications lack KYC or any other age verification system, making explicit content easily accessible to minors. Such accessibility is deemed to be a direct violation of Section 11 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012,” it added.

The commission also asked MeitY to provide information regarding the regulations and policy certification governing such apps.

Ullu Digital, owned by Vibhu Agarwal and his wife Megha Agarwal, is a Mumbai-based OTT platform with images in distribution, promotion, exhibition, marketing and delivery of various content on its digital platform and app. 

This development comes two weeks after Ullu Digital filed its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with the BSE SME for an initial public offering (IPO) to raise reportedly INR 150 Cr.

The platform plans to use the net proceeds raised via the IPO to meet its expenses for the production of new content, purchase of international shows, tech investment, and to meet the working capital requirements.

Reportedly, Ullu plans to spend INR 30 crore out of the IPO proceeds on the production of new content.

Looking at the company’s financials, Ullu’s operating revenue doubled to INR 93.1 Cr in FY23 from INR 46.8 Cr in the previous fiscal year. Its profits jumped to INR 15.1 Cr in the reported period from INR 3.9 Cr in FY22. 

With the platform’s content library expanding, the company has also hiked its prices to its subscribers in recent years, raising the annual subscription plan from Rs 198 in 2020 to Rs 459.

The OTT platform offering web series, short films, and shows competes against the likes of Zee5, Hoichoi, as well as Netflix and Amazon’s Prime Video, among several others.