Khar police on Tuesday issued a third summons to YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia in connection with the ‘India’s Got Latent’ controversy. He has been directed to appear at the police station immediately to record his statement.
This comes after Mumbai police rejected his request to have his statement recorded at his residence on February 13. India TV reported that the second summons was also sent on the same day.
Apart from Allahbadia, content creators Ashish Chanchlani, Apoorva Makhija, Samay Raina, and three others have been summoned for questioning. While several individuals recorded their statements on February 12, Raina requested an extension until March 17, as he is currently in the United States for a stand-up comedy tour.
So far, Khar police have recorded statements from seven individuals. These include Chanchlani and Makhija, who served as judges on the show, as well as Balraj Ghai, the owner of the studio where the show was filmed. Three technical personnel associated with the production have also provided their statements.
Earlier today, the Supreme Court reprimanded Allahbadia for using vulgar language while hearing his plea to merge multiple FIRs filed against him. He had sought consolidation of the cases related to allegedly inappropriate remarks made on comedian Samay Raina’s YouTube show. While granting him relief, the court criticized his conduct.
The court provided Allahbadia with protection from arrest but barred him from accompanying police officers to the station. It also ruled that no additional FIRs should be filed in the case. Before granting relief, the bench questioned Allahbadia’s counsel, asking whether they approved of his language and how he conducted himself. The court also sought clarification on what constitutes obscenity.
Meanwhile, Chanchlani has received interim anticipatory bail from the Gauhati High Court in connection with an FIR filed by Guwahati police over alleged obscene and controversial remarks made on ‘India’s Got Latent.’ A bench led by Justice Mridul Kumar Kalita directed him to appear before the investigating officer within 10 days. The final hearing is scheduled.
The controversy erupted after Raina’s show featured a question posed by Allahbadia to a contestant: “Would you rather watch your parents… or step in once to stop it forever?” The remark sparked outrage on social media, leading to the ongoing inquiry.