Synopsis
The Supreme Court is set to review Ashish Chanchlani's plea to quash or transfer a Guwahati FIR related to inappropriate comments made on the show 'India's Got Latent'. This follows significant backlash and a formal complaint regarding the incident.Key Takeaways
- Ashish Chanchlani seeks to dismiss or transfer an FIR.
- The controversy arose from comments made on "India's Got Latent".
- The Supreme Court issued a notice regarding the plea.
- Several laws were cited in the FIR filed against him.
- Interim relief was granted by the Guwahati High Court.
New Delhi, Feb 21 (NationPress) The Supreme Court on Friday decided to consider a plea from renowned YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani, who is requesting the court to dismiss or move to Mumbai an FIR filed against him in Guwahati due to inappropriate and vulgar remarks about parents made during the comedy show "India's Got Latent".
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N.K. Singh issued a notice regarding Chanchlani’s request and connected it with the ongoing case involving the main accused, Ranveer Allahbadia.
The apex court acknowledged that the Guwahati High Court had previously provided interim relief to Chanchlani, instructing him to meet with the Investigating Officer within a ten-day window.
Ashish Chanchlani participated in Samay Raina's show "India's Got Latent" alongside other content creators including Ranveer Allahbadia, Jaspreet Singh, and Apoorva Mukhija.
A significant uproar arose after Allahbadia posed a controversial question to a female contestant: “Would you prefer watching your parents engage in sexual activity every day for the rest of your life, or participate once and end it forever?”
This offensive comment triggered widespread backlash from audiences and critics, prompting Raina to remove all episodes of the show from YouTube.
A formal complaint was lodged with the Mumbai Police Commissioner and the Maharashtra Women’s Commission. The Guwahati Crime Branch subsequently opened a case under various laws including the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), 2023, the IT Act, 2000, the Cinematograph Act, 1952, and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.
In a statement on X, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced: "Guwahati police have filed an FIR against specific YouTubers and social influencers, including Ashish Chanchlani, Jaspreet Singh, Apoorva Mukhija, Ranveer Allahbadia, and Samay Raina, for promoting obscenity and engaging in sexually explicit discussions on a show titled 'India's Got Latent'."
Allahbadia, known for his BeerBiceps brand, also apologized, admitting that his comment was "not appropriate" and "not even funny."
The Supreme Court granted him interim relief after he filed a petition under Article 31, seeking protection from coercive measures and contesting multiple FIRs against him in various states.
