On Tuesday, the Supreme Court heard over influencer Ranveer Allahbadia’s plea seeking the clubbing of various FIRs filed against him for alleged obscene remarks made on comedian Samay Raina’s YouTube show, India’s Got Latent. Justice Surya Kant asked if Ranveer Allahbadia is defending the statements he made, to which his lawyer, Abhinav Chandrachud said, “Not at all. I am disgusted. But whether it rises to the level of criminal offence is another question.”
Questioning the YouTuber on the ‘parameters of obscenity’, SC asked, “What are the parameters of obscenity/vulgarity?” Ranveer’s lawyer said, “This is for clubbing of FIRs. Petitioner has received death threats. First in Maharashtra, then Assam, now Jaipur, there is a reward, offense is old S.153A (promoting hatred).”Justice Surya Kant lashes out at Abhinav Chandrachud saying, “If this is not obscenity in this country, then what it!? See the language you are using! You have got a license to speak all kinds of language?”Calling Ranveer Allahbadia’s mind dirty, Justice Surya Kant said, “He is insulting parents also! There is something dirty in this person’s mind that has been spread through this program. Why the Courts should favor him?”
The top court has said that just because Ranveer Allahbadia is popular, he does not get the right to say anything and take the society for granted – “Somebody thinks that because I have become so and so popular, I can speak any kind of words and take entire society for granted, you tell us anyone in the world who would like such words!”Abhinav Chandrachud said, “Please see my interim application. “Ranveer Allahabadia ki zubaan kaatkar laane wale ko milega 5 lakhs ka inaam” is the threat.”
Justice Kant responded saying, “If you can seek cheap publicity by using abusive language, this person extending threat is also seeking publicity.” “The words you have chosen, parents will be ashamed, sisters will be ashamed. Entire society will feel ashamed. The pervert mind. The perversion you and your henchmen have exhibited! We have judicial system, bound by rule of law. If there are threats, law will take course,” Justice Surya Kant.
In a big relief to Ranveer Allahbadia, Justice Kant has held, “Issue notice. Meanwhile, arrest of petitioner in Maharashtra and Assam FIRs shall remain stayed, subject to his joining investigation. Further subject to his cooperating fully, he won’t be accompanied by counsel inside police station.”
Directions of Supreme Court
We direct – (i) no further FIR shall be registered against petitioner on the basis of episode aired on show India’s Got Latent (ii) petitioner shall be at liberty to approach local police of Maharashtra and Assam for protection of his life and liberty in case of threat. If any other fir on same set of allegations is registered in Jaipur, arrest of petitioner shall remain stayed in that also. Petitioner shall deposit his passport at Thane police station. He shall not leave country without prior permission of this court: Justice Surya KantJustice Surya Kant has ordered that ‘petitioner or his associates shall not air any other show till further orders.’
Notably, last Friday, Abhinav Chandrachud, son of former Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, urgently requested the matter be listed in the Supreme Court. Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna assured that the case would be assigned to a bench and heard within two to three days.
Section 294 of the BNS governs the sale, distribution, and circulation of obscene materials. This section aims to protect public morality and it also penalises the “display of any content in electronic form.” As per Assam CM’s post, “Guwahati Crime Branch has registered a case vide Cyber PS case no 03/2025 under sections -79/95/294/296 of BNS 2023 read with Sec 67 of IT Act, 2000, read with Section 4/7 of Cinematograph Act 1952 read with Section 4/6 of Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 198.”
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