New Delhi, February 18 – The Supreme Court has granted interim protection from arrest to YouTuber Ranveer Allahabadia, popularly known as Beer Biceps, in multiple FIRs filed against him over alleged obscene remarks made during an episode of the YouTube show India’s Got Latent.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh issued the interim order while seeking responses from the Union of India, Maharashtra, and Assam on Allahabadia’s petition challenging the FIRs. The court also barred the registration of further FIRs linked to the same episode.
Conditions for Interim Protection
The court’s relief comes with strict conditions:
Allahabadia must cooperate with the investigation and appear when summoned.
- He cannot have legal counsel present inside the police station during questioning.
- He must surrender his passport to the Thane police.
- He cannot leave India without Supreme Court approval.
- He and his associates are prohibited from airing further episodes until further notice.
- The court also allowed Allahabadia to seek police protection in Maharashtra and Assam if he faces threats.
Court Rebukes Allahabadia’s Language
During the hearing, Justice Kant strongly criticized Allahabadia’s remarks, calling them “dirty” and “perverted.” His lawyer, Dr. Abhinav Chandrachud, acknowledged the remarks were distasteful but argued they did not constitute a criminal offense, citing the Apoorva Arora case.
Justice Kant remained unconvinced, questioning whether profanity alone absolved a person from legal scrutiny. The court noted that different FIRs addressed different statements, particularly those allegedly insulting people from Arunachal Pradesh.
Multiple FIRs and Public Outrage
The controversy erupted after a short clip from the India’s Got Latent episode went viral, drawing widespread criticism. Allahabadia later issued a public apology, while the show’s creator, comedian Samay Raina, deleted all episodes from his channel.
FIRs were filed in Guwahati, Mumbai, and Jaipur, accusing Allahabadia and other YouTubers, including Ashish Chanchlani, Jaspreet Singh, and Apoorva Makhija, of promoting obscenity. Chanchlani has since moved the Gauhati High Court for anticipatory bail.
Legal Battle Continues
Allahabadia’s legal team cited previous rulings to argue against multiple FIRs for the same offense. However, the Supreme Court noted distinct elements in each case. The court also dismissed comparisons to other high-profile cases, emphasizing the impact of Allahabadia’s remarks on societal values.
Despite the interim protection, the legal battle continues as authorities in multiple states investigate the case. Further developments are awaited as the Supreme Court reviews the responses from the respondents.
