YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, better known as BeerBiceps, on Tuesday assured the Supreme Court that he would maintain decency in his podcast, amid the ongoing row over obscene remarks made by him during an episode of a web show, India's Got Latent. .A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and NK Singh, however declined to allow Allahbadia's plea to lift travel restrictions imposed on him earlier.This was after Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta (representing the Maharashtra government) informed that the probe against Allahbadia will take two more weeks for completion. The Court opined that Allahbadia's plea for permission to travel abroad can be considered after this investigation is over. "The petitioner has given an undertaking that his show, which was permitted will maintain decency and will not mention any issues which are sub judice (pending) in different forums. On query, learned Solicitor General that investigation in the ongoing FIRs is likely to be completed within two weeks. Since the petitioner might be required to join the ongoing investigations, his prayer for release of passport and to allow him to travel abroad will be considered after the investigations are complete," the Court said. .The Court was dealing with a petition filed by Allahbadia after he faced multiple criminal cases across the country for controversial remarks made by him and others part of a judges' panel for an episode of India's Got Latent.The Court had on March 3 allowed the content creator to resume filming his podcast on the condition that he adheres to general standards of morality and decency.Today, Allahbadia's counsel, advocate Abhinav Chandrachud told the Court that the YouTuber and podcast host's livelihood was being affected because he is not able to travel to meet guests that he was slated to interview for his show. Notably, the Court had earlier ordered the deposit of Allahbadia's passport with the Thane police, and told him not to leave India without the Court's permission."His livelihood is interviewing personalities for which he has to travel continuously," Chandrachud told the Court. The Court, however, was not inclined to entertain this prayer for the present, since the investigation was still ongoing. "If we allow you to travel, investigation may also (get) deferred," the Court said. "Investigation will take two weeks to complete," SG Mehta added. "You come after two weeks," the Court eventually told Allahbadia's counsel. .The controversial episode of India's Got Latent under scrutiny now before the top court was shot on November 14, 2024, at Khar Habitat but aired more recently.Apart from Allahbadia, YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani had also approached the top court seeking to quash an FIR filed against him in Assam, arguing that a similar FIR was first registered in Mumbai. He had alternatively requested for the transfer of the FIR to Mumbai. The Gauhati High Court had earlier granted him anticipatory bail..The Supreme Court had earlier condemned the statements made by Allahbadia and others accused, terming them perverted and dirty minded. The Bench questioned whether unrestricted vulgarity could be defended as artistic expression and remarked that the words used were deeply offensive to society, parents and women.Nevertheless, it had granted interim protection to Allahbadia but barred him from doing any show. This restriction was partly lifted later, to permit him to resume his podcast, provided that decency is maintained in its content. The Court also hinted that it may expand the scope of the case to examine whether some regulation should be put in place to prevent similar instances of obscene speech being broadcast..During today's hearing, the Court was informed that Ranveer Allahbadia had also appeared before the National Commission for Women in connection with the case, before which authority he gave a statement on March 6.Allahbadia further joined the investigation at Guhawati (where one of the criminal cases against him is registered) as well, where also his statement was recorded on March 7, the Court was told.Senior Advocate Ajay Tiwari appeared for Ashish Chanchlani today. The matter will be heard next on April 21. .[Read Live Coverage]
YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, better known as BeerBiceps, on Tuesday assured the Supreme Court that he would maintain decency in his podcast, amid the ongoing row over obscene remarks made by him during an episode of a web show, India's Got Latent. .A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and NK Singh, however declined to allow Allahbadia's plea to lift travel restrictions imposed on him earlier.This was after Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta (representing the Maharashtra government) informed that the probe against Allahbadia will take two more weeks for completion. The Court opined that Allahbadia's plea for permission to travel abroad can be considered after this investigation is over. "The petitioner has given an undertaking that his show, which was permitted will maintain decency and will not mention any issues which are sub judice (pending) in different forums. On query, learned Solicitor General that investigation in the ongoing FIRs is likely to be completed within two weeks. Since the petitioner might be required to join the ongoing investigations, his prayer for release of passport and to allow him to travel abroad will be considered after the investigations are complete," the Court said. .The Court was dealing with a petition filed by Allahbadia after he faced multiple criminal cases across the country for controversial remarks made by him and others part of a judges' panel for an episode of India's Got Latent.The Court had on March 3 allowed the content creator to resume filming his podcast on the condition that he adheres to general standards of morality and decency.Today, Allahbadia's counsel, advocate Abhinav Chandrachud told the Court that the YouTuber and podcast host's livelihood was being affected because he is not able to travel to meet guests that he was slated to interview for his show. Notably, the Court had earlier ordered the deposit of Allahbadia's passport with the Thane police, and told him not to leave India without the Court's permission."His livelihood is interviewing personalities for which he has to travel continuously," Chandrachud told the Court. The Court, however, was not inclined to entertain this prayer for the present, since the investigation was still ongoing. "If we allow you to travel, investigation may also (get) deferred," the Court said. "Investigation will take two weeks to complete," SG Mehta added. "You come after two weeks," the Court eventually told Allahbadia's counsel. .The controversial episode of India's Got Latent under scrutiny now before the top court was shot on November 14, 2024, at Khar Habitat but aired more recently.Apart from Allahbadia, YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani had also approached the top court seeking to quash an FIR filed against him in Assam, arguing that a similar FIR was first registered in Mumbai. He had alternatively requested for the transfer of the FIR to Mumbai. The Gauhati High Court had earlier granted him anticipatory bail..The Supreme Court had earlier condemned the statements made by Allahbadia and others accused, terming them perverted and dirty minded. The Bench questioned whether unrestricted vulgarity could be defended as artistic expression and remarked that the words used were deeply offensive to society, parents and women.Nevertheless, it had granted interim protection to Allahbadia but barred him from doing any show. This restriction was partly lifted later, to permit him to resume his podcast, provided that decency is maintained in its content. The Court also hinted that it may expand the scope of the case to examine whether some regulation should be put in place to prevent similar instances of obscene speech being broadcast..During today's hearing, the Court was informed that Ranveer Allahbadia had also appeared before the National Commission for Women in connection with the case, before which authority he gave a statement on March 6.Allahbadia further joined the investigation at Guhawati (where one of the criminal cases against him is registered) as well, where also his statement was recorded on March 7, the Court was told.Senior Advocate Ajay Tiwari appeared for Ashish Chanchlani today. The matter will be heard next on April 21. .[Read Live Coverage]
