Controversial YouTuber Irfan is once again under scrutiny after the Tamil Nadu Health Department reopened its inquiry into his widely criticised gender reveal video, following directions from the Madras High Court.
The controversy dates back nearly two years, when Irfan’s wife was pregnant with their first child. Since revealing the sex of an unborn child is prohibited in India, Irfan travelled to Dubai, where sex determination during pregnancy is legally permitted. After learning the baby’s gender at a hospital there, he returned to Chennai and organised a gender reveal event in the presence of family members and friends. He also uploaded a video of the event on his YouTube channel, publicly announcing the baby’s gender.
While countries such as the UAE, Singapore and Thailand permit parents to determine and disclose the sex of an unborn child, India prohibits the practice under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994. The law was enacted to prevent sex-selective abortions by prohibiting the disclosure of a foetus’ sex before birth.
The video sparked widespread criticism, with many accusing Irfan of violating the spirit of the law. Following the backlash, he removed the video from his YouTube channel.
During the previous AIADMK government, the Tamil Nadu Health Department issued a notice to Irfan, and officials from the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services (DMRHS) in Teynampet, Chennai, conducted an inquiry.
During the inquiry, Irfan submitted a written apology admitting that his actions were wrong and sought forgiveness. Officials accepted the apology letter, considering it satisfactory, and no further action was taken at the time.
However, Irfan landed in another controversy during the birth of his child. While his wife was admitted to hospital for delivery, he entered the operation theatre, recorded videos during the procedure, and uploaded footage showing himself cutting the baby’s umbilical cord. The video also drew criticism, prompting him to remove it from his YouTube channel.
Then Health Minister Ma. Subramanian initially stated that the matter would not be taken lightly. However, a few days later, he defended the outcome by saying, “Did Irfan commit murder? Action has already been taken against the concerned hospital.”
The gender reveal case has now resurfaced following a petition filed before the Madras High Court by advocate Jegannathan.
On June 3, the High Court directed the authorities to take appropriate action on the complaint within eight weeks, fixing August 15 as the deadline for compliance.
Pursuant to the court’s order, the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services has issued separate summons to both Irfan and petitioner Jegannathan and conducted individual inquiries, which were reportedly video-recorded.
Speaking about the case, advocate Jegannathan said he had first approached the Union Health Ministry, requesting that the matter should not be closed without proper action.
According to him, the Union Health Ministry directed the then Director of Medical and Rural Health Services, Ilango Maheswaran, to initiate appropriate legal action if Irfan had violated the provisions of the PCPNDT Act. Copies of the communication were also sent to the then Health Secretary and the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu.
Jegannathan alleged that despite those directions, no action was taken.
He said he later approached the then DMRHS Director Rajamoorthy, who informed him that the case had already been closed. Following this, he filed a petition before the Madras High Court.
According to Jegannathan, the case remained pending before the High Court for nearly 14 months before the court delivered its final order on June 3, directing the authorities to take appropriate action on the complaint within eight weeks.
He said that after the court’s order, the DMRHS Director issued inquiry summons to both him and Irfan. He has since submitted a detailed written explanation explaining the nature of the alleged violations committed by Irfan under the relevant law.
Jegannathan further claimed that officials had assured him that a final order in the inquiry would be passed within a week.
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