New Delhi: YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, popularly known as BeerBiceps, has approached the Supreme Court seeking protection from multiple FIRs lodged against him in different states. The complaints stem from controversial remarks made during a now-deleted episode of India’s Got Latent, a YouTube reality show hosted by comedian Samay Raina.
Allahbadia Seeks Legal Protection
Through his lawyer Abhinav Chandrachud, son of former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Mr. Allahbadia has filed a petition requesting the Supreme Court to consolidate the FIRs registered in different states. He has also sought anticipatory bail, fearing arrest after the Guwahati police issued summons to him and others associated with the show.
His legal team sought an urgent hearing, but Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna declined, stating that a date had already been assigned for the case. Justice Khanna advised them to approach the court registry for further proceedings.
What Sparked the Controversy?
The controversy erupted after Mr. Allahbadia posed a question during an episode of India’s Got Latent:
“Would you rather watch your parents have sex every day for the rest of your life or join in once and stop it forever?”
The remarks were widely criticized for being offensive and inappropriate, leading to multiple complaints. A resident of Guwahati formally lodged an FIR, prompting the Assam police to book Mr. Allahbadia, Mr. Raina, and others, including Ashish Chanchlani, Jaspreet Singh, and Apoorva Makhija, under sections related to obscenity and public morality.
Legal & Political Fallout
The Assam police have dispatched a team to Mumbai to serve summons to the accused. Mr. Raina, who resides in Pune, has also been summoned to appear before the Assam police within four days. However, he is currently in the United States for professional commitments and has requested additional time to respond.
The issue has also sparked a political debate, with Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske raising concerns in Parliament, calling for stricter regulations on social media content. In response, a parliamentary panel on communications and information technology has directed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to submit a detailed report on the matter by February 17.
What’s Next?
With multiple FIRs in different states, Mr. Allahbadia’s Supreme Court plea could set a precedent for jurisdictional consolidation of complaints related to online content. Meanwhile, the Assam police continue their investigation, and the legal battle ahead could impact the landscape of digital content regulation in India.
