In February 2024, the OTT platform filed a draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) to be listed on the BSE SME platform. According to the draft filings, it intends to collect INR 135 crore to INR 150 crore through an initial public offering (IPO), which will only include a fresh issue of 62.63 lakh shares.
However, after filing the DRHP, the OTT platform encountered regulatory complications due to its pornographic material. In February of last year, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) recommended the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to take action against the OTT platform.
In a letter to the ministry dated February 27, NCPCR chairperson Priyank Kanoongo stated that the ‘Ullu’ app, which is available on both the Play Store and iOS, has “extremely obscene and objectionable” content that is accessible even to youngsters. This prompted a combined probe by SEBI, the Corporate Affairs Ministry, and MeitY.
Ullu’s IPO plans were delayed as a result of the dispute. Last month, its founder and CEO, Vibhu Agarwal, informed exchange4media that the company expects to go public in March 2025.