Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India]: The National Commission for Women (NCW) has summoned actor Ajaz Khan and Ullu App CEO Vibhu Agarwal over allegations of vulgar and coercive content featured in the OTT reality show ‘House Arrest’, hosted by Khan.
The Commission, acting suo motu, demanded that both Khan and Agarwal appear on May 9 in response to a viral clip from the show that drew widespread public outrage on social media.
“NCW takes suo motu cognisance of obscene content on Ullu App’s show House Arrest. Viral clips show women being coerced into intimate acts on camera. NCW slams the platform for promoting vulgarity and violating consent. CEO and host summoned on May 9,” the Commission stated on X.
The clip reportedly shows female participants being pressured into performing intimate acts, raising serious concerns over consent, exploitation, and ethical boundaries in OTT content creation.
The show, which began streaming on April 11, 2025, is described as an “uncensored version” of popular captive reality shows like Bigg Boss and Lock Upp. It features 12 contestants — nine women and three men — confined in a luxury villa and asked to perform various tasks, some of which have come under intense scrutiny.
The controversy comes amid a broader legal and societal debate over obscene and exploitative content on digital platforms. Just last month, the Supreme Court of India issued notices to the Centre, major OTT platforms and social media giants on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) demanding strict regulation of obscene content.
A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and AG Masih acknowledged that the issue raised was of “important concern.” The court sought responses from Netflix, Amazon Prime, Alt Balaji, Ullu, ALTT, X (formerly Twitter), Meta Inc, Google, Apple, and others on the PIL that calls for oversight mechanisms to curb objectionable material online.
The Ullu App, previously criticized for adult-themed series, now faces growing legal and social backlash for its newest reality content, as women’s rights bodies, courts, and citizens demand greater accountability.