India’s got Latent row: SC notice to Maharashtra, Assam governments on YouTuber’s plea

Ashish Chanchlani has sought to quash or transfer to Mumbai FIR registered in Guwahati accusing him of promoting obscenity in the online show ‘India’s Got Latent’

The Supreme Court on Friday (February 21, 2025) sought a response from the Maharashtra and Assam governments on a plea by YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani to quash or transfer to Mumbai a First Information Report (FIR) registered in Guwahati accusing him of promoting obscenity in the online show ‘India’s Got Latent’.

A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh issued a notice and tagged Mr. Chanchlani’s plea with influencer Ranveer Allahbadia’s pending petition.

On February 18, the top court had protected Mr. Allahbadia from arrest for his controversial remarks about parents and sex during the online show after lambasting him for his “filthy language” and “dirty mind”.

The court had barred the police from registering new criminal cases against Mr. Allahbadia on the basis of his remarks. It had however prohibited the YouTuber from participating in shows.

Mr. Allahbadia had approached the Supreme Court for protection from arrest while challenging the multiple FIRs as an attempt to harass and rob him of his personal liberty.

The court had taken a stern moral view of Mr. 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”.

In Mr. Chanchlani’s case, the Gauhati High Court had already granted him interim bail.

The Guwahati Police had registered the FIR against him on a complaint filed on February 10 under various Sections of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhtia (BNS), Information Technology Act, Cinematograph Act and Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act.

Published - February 21, 2025 02:13 pm IST