Mumbai Police Intervenes As Man's 'Brothel' Comment On Girls Dance Video Triggers Twitter Storm

The issue started when a woman called out a man for his "kotha" comment on her video that he posted online 'without her consent'.

Shruti Parija (left) complained against Prateek Aaryan (right) for his "kotha" remark on her dance video he posted on X.

Source : X

After a raging storm on Twitter over a man's comment on a woman's dance video shared 'without her consent; the Mumbai Police had to intervent to control the matter which sparked a massive debate online. The issue started when a Prateek Aaryan shared the video of Shruti Parija;s dance performance at a college fest and criticised the performance with his 'Kotha' [brothel' remark. It was the caption he used for Shruti's video which sparked the controversy between which has been brewing since February 13.

After making several requests to Prateek to take down the video and his refusal to do so, she tagged the Mumbai Police saying, "After endless requests made to take my video down from his post where he is comparing the stage I’m dancing on as a kotha, in turn defaming me and damaging my reputation , he has refused to do so and has blackmailed me instead." 

The official account of Mumbai Police then tagged the girl, Shruti Parija and said  "We have followed you. Please share your contact details in DM."

Replying to the police's comment she wrote on X: "Mumbai Police contacted me this afternoon and the proceedings have begun! Thank you all for supporting!"

The boy posted the video and wrote "Indian schools and colleges are well known for organizing "Sanskritik karyakram" and performances based traditional and regional culture, but now it has become a "kotha." 

Indian schools and colleges are well known for organizing "Sanskritik karyakram" and performances based traditional and regional culture, but now it has become a "kotha." In the name of cultural events, shaking booty on item songs is all they call a cultural program. Along with… pic.twitter.com/l8cm1Xn776

— Prateekaaryan 𝕏 (@Prateek_Aaryan) February 13, 2024

The post went viral on X and got over 2.5 million views two days after it was posted. Shruti commented on Prateek's post where she revealed she was the girl in the video and asked him to take it down. “Hi, I’m the girl in the video and I did not consent for you to be reposting my video. Please take it down," the post read.

Hi, I’m the girl in the video and I did not consent for you to be reposting my video. Please take it down

— Shruti Parija (@shruteeeh) February 15, 2024

Several people commented on Prateek's post and also responded to Shruti's comment, slamming the former for posting the video without consent. 

On receiving support from netizens, Shurti said, “I’m glad there are actually people calling this out. Again to clarify, I’m not associated with that college. I’m a professional choreographer. My only polite request to @Prateek_Aaryan is to take down my video. I haven’t threatened or even outraged at him.”

Shruti repeatedly asked him to take her video down and called him out for making the "kotha" remark which she said implied that he was referring to her as a prostitute. 

While requesting him to take down the video she said, "I don’t care about your opinion or anyone’s opinion. I only request you, again, politely, for the 10th time, to take my video down."

"I’ve nothing to do with that college/university/or any college. I’m a graduate. I’m a professional. I don’t even live in the city of that college. I only politely asked you to take my personal video down from your post. I don’t know how to make it any clear," she said.

Meanwhile, Prateek replied to her comments and stressed that the comment wasn't directed at her.

"Dear Shruti, I wasn't intending to respond to you, but seeing numerous tweets, I thought to write a reply. As mentioned in my tweet, I spoke about Indian schools and colleges, not pointing fingers on you. In the first statement, I spoke about Indian schools and colleges, explicitly stating that I haven't said anything about you. I haven't slut-shamed you( as you alleged) in any way. In the second line, I mentioned that under the guise of a cultural program, there is dancing to item songs, so that's clear I'm not mentioning you anywhere. My intention was not to cause you any harm. I've shared my general opinion on the college system posting your video. Please read the original tweet statement once again and consider if I've said anything wrong about you."

Dear Shruti , I wasn't intending to respond to you, but seeing numerous tweets, I thought to write a reply. As mentioned in my tweet, I spoke about Indian schools and colleges, not pointing fingers on you. In the first statement, I spoke about Indian schools and colleges,…

— Prateekaaryan 𝕏 (@Prateek_Aaryan) February 16, 2024

Shruti responded to this comment saying that she was a "judge" at the fest and the students and audience present there had requested her to perform on the track. "The students, audience and everyone in the auditorium requested me to perform on this track at their own fest. They played it, and I being a dancer and choreographer, performed on it. Take it up with the college if you have a problem," her comment read.

Calling it his last post on the matter, Prateek, who has 18,000 followers on X, maintained that he will not delete the post and said, "I didn't want to give any explanation, but I had to. This is my last post related to all this, and I won't be expressing any views further or providing any more explanations."

"Firstly, this video isn't your intellectual property; you don't own the rights, you're only a participant.
Secondly, under fair use for criticism, views, and opinions, I can use any content available in the public domain without claiming ownership.
Thirdly, if you had politely requested earlier, I would have deleted my post. However, you and your friend used violent speech, threatened legal action, and mentioned putting me behind bars. Please proceed with your first option. As I clarified earlier, I didn't abuse or slut-shame you, and you acknowledged that( I've screenshots). So, if you're blaming and alleging me of abuse and violent slurs, do whatever you can. I am not deleting that post."

Firstly, this video isn't your intellectual property; you don't own the rights, you're only a participant.

Secondly, under fair use for criticism, views, and opinions, I can use any content available in the public domain without claiming ownership.

Thirdly, if you had politely… https://t.co/3w5wBxnli8

— Prateekaaryan 𝕏 (@Prateek_Aaryan) February 16, 2024

However, Shruti revealed in a post on X that the dance video shared by Prateek has been disabled. 

"Update. With some technical help, the media in his post has finally been disabled as a result of copyright claim. Although the video hasn’t been taken down by him and might still be available in this post in some areas. Will update on the legal front soon," she said on X.