Two cases filed against YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia for ‘obscene’ family comments on India’s Got Latent
A case has been filed against YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, popularly known as Beer Biceps, and comedian Samay Raina among others for creating ‘obscene’ content and broadcasting it on Raina’s India’s Got Latent show by the Maharashtra cyber police.
Indian Express reported that this is the second FIR filed against them after the Assam police filed a case on Monday. A parliamentary panel is also considering summoning Allahbadia to address the issue.
Allahbadia appeared on India’s Got Latent, a satirical parody of India’s Got Talent, and made a crass ‘joke’ during the show where he asked a contestant if they would rather watch their parents have sex every day for the rest of their life or join in once and stop it forever.
The cyber police filed the case under Section 67 (Transmission of obscene material in electronic form) of the Information Technology Act, among other sections. “On Monday evening, we registered a case against 30 individuals, including artists, hosts, judges, and participants of all six episodes of India’s Got Latent, and we will be issuing summons to all, asking them to join the police probe,” a senior police officer from Maharashtra state Cyber police told the publication.
The move comes after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on social media on Monday that the YouTuber and others were booked in a case in his state.
Allahbadia has since apologised in a video posted to his Instagram account.
“My comment wasn’t just inappropriate, it wasn’t even funny. Comedy is not my forte, just here to say sorry,” he said in the video. “Many of you asked if this is how I want to use my platform. No, this is not how I will use it. I’m not here to give any context or justification. I’m just here for an apology. I personally had a lapse in my judgment, it wasn’t cool on my part.
“My podcast is watched by people of all ages. [I] don’t want to be the person who takes that responsibility lightly. Family is the last thing I will disrespect. [I] need to use this platform better. That’s been my learning from this whole incident. I’ve asked makers to remove the insensitive sections from the video. I’m sorry. Hope you can forgive me as a human being.”
His apology was met with scoffs of disbelief from many commenters who believed it was an act of damage control. While some fans expressed their support, many were angry at his comments and “rejected” his apology.
Allahbadia, who boasts 3.4 million followers on his personal Instagram, 4.4 million on his Beer Biceps page and another 8.23 million on YouTube, has a diverse portfolio — he’s interviewed top politicians such as Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, former RAW chief Vikram Sood, activists, lawyers, athletes such as former footballer Rio Ferdinand, former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, celebrities such as Priyanka Chopra and Kareena Kapoor and many, many others. In Pakistan, some of his videos have gone viral in which he interviewed foreign travellers on their experiences in the country.
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