YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, Apoorva Makhija, and comedian Samay Raina are at the centre of entire controversy around India Got Latent show as Mumbai Police have filed an FIR against the trio. The FIR says that Allahbadia’s comments “demeaned the Indian family system and offended religious sentiments.”
The controversy stems from inappropriate questions Allahbadia asked one of the contestants about sex and their parents during an episode of India’s Got Latent. Allahbadia was accompanied by comedian Samay Raina, YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani, and other guests in the contentious episode.
A separate complaint was also filed against YouTuber Apoorva Makhija. In another clip from the episode, Makhija allegedly made controversial remarks about the food preferences of people from Arunachal Pradesh.
She was quoted as saying, “People from Arunachal Pradesh eat dog meat, even though I’ve never tasted it. I know because my friends eat it. They even eat their pets at times.” The complaint suggests that such comments could disturb the peace in the Northeastern state.
Following the backlash over Allahbadia’s comments, the controversial India’s Got Latent episode has been removed from YouTube. Meanwhile, the Standing Committee on Information Technology is considering summoning Ranveer Allahbadia over his offensive remarks after Members of Parliament raised concerns about the issue.
Here are the sections under which Allahbadia and others have been booked:
The YouTubers present on the show were charged under Sections 79, 196, 296, and 3(5) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Practicing lawyer at Delhi High Court, Pranjal Shekhar explained these sections for the Financial Express:
Section 79– Any word or gestures intended to insult the modesty of a woman. Punishment- up to 3 years and fine.
Section 196– addresses the promotion of enmity between different groups based on factors such as religion, race, or place of birth, carrying a penalty of up to three years of imprisonment, a fine, or both.
Section 296– deals with the public performance of obscene acts, songs, or words, with offenders facing up to three months in jail, a fine, or both.
Additionally, Section 3(5) stipulates that if more than one person carries out an act to further a common intention, all involved are liable for punishment.