India’s Got Latent Row: Supreme Court extends interim protection of Ranveer Allahabadia

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Monday extended its interim protection granted from arrest to YouTuber and Podcaster Ranveer Allahabadia in the case relating to the controversial remarks made by him and others in an episode of India’s Got Latent.

A bench comprising Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh noted that the Maharashtra police have completed their investigation into the matter and will soon file the chargesheet.

It asked the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to inform it whether investigation regarding Allahabadia is completed and he is no longer required for the purpose of further investigation by the Assam police.

The top court has now posted for hearing on April 28 his plea seeking the cancellation or transfer of an FIR registered against him in Mumbai in Guwahati in connection with the show.

Meanwhile, the Cure SMA Foundation of India, an NGO, also moved the apex court, seeking to intervene in the India’s Got Talent case and urging the inclusion of provisions within the proposed regulatory framework for online content to protect the rights and interests of persons with disabilities.

NGO said comedian Samay Raina made insensitive commentaries on persons with such conditions, high-cost drugs and treatment options. It flagged two videos where he made comments on people with disabilities.

To this, the bench stated that the issue is “very serious” but asked the NGO’s counsel to file a separate writ petition and to place on record the video clips and implead the concerned person.

Earlier, the top court had granted interim protection to him from arrest in the case.

The top court had come down heavily on Allahabadia for his inappropriate comments during his guest appearance on the show, and described it as “dirty and perverted.”

It had also asked the Centre if it wanted to take action against obscene content on YouTube and other social media platforms, and sought the assistance of the Attorney General and Solicitor General in the matter.

On February 11, the Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, said the Guwahati Police have registered an FIR against YouTubers and social influencers Allahabadia, Samay Raina, Ashish Chanchlani, Jaspreet Singh, Apoorva Makhija, and others for promoting obscenity and engaging in sexually explicit and vulgar discussions on India’s Got Latent.

FIRs have been registered against them in Mumbai and Guwahati.