Caught
in the eye of the storm, podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia has approached the
Supreme Court seeking relief from multiple FIRs filed against him over
controversial remarks made on a YouTube programme.
A
bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, along with Justice Sanjay Kumar,
acknowledged the request made by Allahbadia’s lawyer, Abhinav Chandrachud, and
indicated that the matter would be scheduled for a hearing within the next few
days.
Chandrachud
pressed for an urgent hearing, citing that the Assam Police had summoned his
client on Friday. Meanwhile, representatives supporting the FIRs are expected
to present arguments justifying the legal basis of the complaints.
Chief Justice Khanna stated that a date had already
been set for the petition. Although Chandrachud expressed concerns about
potential coercive action by the Assam Police, the Chief Justice refrained from
further comment, reiterating that oral mentions were not entertained and that
the case had been scheduled.
The controversy stems from remarks made by
Allahbadia (aka Beer Biceps) on comedian Samay Raina’s YouTube show India’s Got
Latent, which sparked public outrage and led to multiple FIRs being filed in
different states, including Maharashtra and Assam. Following the backlash on
social media, Allahbadia publicly apologised, acknowledging that his comments
were inappropriate.
To
recall, he was honoured with the Disruptor of the Year award at the National
Creators Award, presented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2024.
The
Supreme Court’s ruling on this case is expected to be significant, as it could
set a precedent for online speech and legal accountability in India. The
outcome is being closely followed by digital content creators and social media
observers, given its potential impact on internet regulations and freedom of
expression.