SC Issues Notice to States
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The Supreme Court has agreed to examine YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani’s plea to club the cases registered in connection with alleged obscene remarks made on a YouTube show, issuing notices to Maharashtra and Assam. Chanchlani is one of those named in the case filed in Assam, which is connected to the controversy involving podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, who has also been named in multiple cases over his remarks on the show India’s Got Latent.
A bench of justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh sought replies from Assam and Maharashtra on Chanchlani’s plea after his counsel said the only issue he pressed was about consolidation of the two First Information Reports (FIRs) at one place, preferably Mumbai. Chanchlani’s petition seeks the quashing of the FIR registered at the cyber police station in Guwahati, arguing that it was lodged later than a related one in Mumbai. Alternatively, Chanchlani has requested the transfer of the FIR to Mumbai, saying it was initially registered there. The Supreme Court granted interim protection from arrest to Allahbadia on February 18 while criticising his remarks as “perverted” and “disgusting”.
The Guwahati Police on February 10 registered the FIR following a complaint, invoking provisions of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, Information Technology Act, Cinematograph Act and Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act. The judiciary has taken a stern moral view of Allahbadia’s comments, saying he was swayed by his own popularity and thought he could resort to “all kinds of vulgarity” and “exhibit a depraved mind anywhere, anytime”. The court agreed to shield Allahbadia from arrest, imposing strict conditions that included barring him from broadcasting new content until further orders and restraining him from leaving India without prior permission.
The controversy surrounding Allahbadia’s remarks has sparked a debate on the limits of free speech in the social media era. The National Commission for Women also summoned him along with other show producers. Allahbadia issued a video apology, terming his comments a “lapse in judgment,” but public outrage has persisted. Following suit, comedian Samay Raina, another panellist on the show, announced on February 12 that he was deleting all episodes of India’s Got Latent and assured full cooperation with investigating agencies. The list of episodes to be deleted includes:
- Episode 1: Introduction to India’s Got Latent
- Episode 2: The Journey Begins
- Episode 3: The First Challenge
The Allahbadia controversy has led to a wider discussion on the need for regulatory frameworks to curb obscenity on social media and YouTube channels. The Supreme Court’s decision to examine Chanchlani’s plea and the ongoing debate on free speech and digital content regulation are expected to have significant implications for the entertainment industry and online platforms. As the case continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the judiciary will balance the need to regulate digital content with the principles of free speech and artistic expression.
ranveer allahbadia ashish chanchlani youtuber supreme youtube court assam obscene
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