YouTuber booked after outrage over obscene remarks, offers apology

The Assam Police on Monday booked YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia and other members of the “India’s Got Latent” show for promoting obscenity and engaging in sexually explicit discussion online.

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Hours after Allahbadia tendered an apology for his remarks on a podcast that triggered a massive row and attracted widespread condemnation, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the Guwahati police had registered an FIR against YouTubers and social media influencers Ashish Chanchlani, Jaspreet Singh, Apoorva Makhija, Ranveer Allahbadia, Samay Raina and others for promoting obscenity and engaging in sexually explicit and vulgar discussion on the show.

“The Guwahati crime branch has registered a case under Sections 79/95/294/296 of the BNS, read with Section 67 of the IT Act, 2000, read with Section 4/7 of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, read with Section 4/6 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986,” Sarma said, adding that an investigation was underway.

A complaint against Allahbadia, who runs BeerBiceps, a popular YouTube channel, has also been lodged in Mumbai with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also hinting at action against him.

“The freedom of expression has limits. Such horrible remarks are not acceptable. The freedom of speech and expression ends when you encroach upon that of the other person,” said Fadnavis.

Shiv Sena UBT’s Rajya Sabha MP Priyaka Chaturvedi said, “Such offensive language in the name of comedy content is not acceptable. As a member of the standing committee of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, I will raise this issue in the parliamentary committee.”

Earlier today, Allahbadia issued an apology on X. "My comment was not only inappropriate, but also not funny. Obviously, this is not how I wish to use my platform. I am not going to give any context, justification or reasoning behind whatever happened. I am just here for an apology...,” he said.