New Delhi, 18th February 2025: The Supreme Court of India granted interim protection from arrest to YouTuber and podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, popularly known as ‘BeerBiceps’, while strongly condemning his remarks made on the YouTube show ‘India’s Got Latent’. The court’s decision came during a hearing of Allahbadia’s petition seeking the clubbing of multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) filed against him in various states.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh criticized Allahbadia’s comments, describing them as “disgusting”, “filthy”, and “insulting”. Justice Surya Kant remarked, “There is something very dirty in his mind that has been vomited by way of this program”. The court questioned the boundaries between free speech and vulgarity, asking, “If this is not obscenity, what is it?”
Despite the harsh criticism, the Supreme Court provided interim relief to Allahbadia. The bench directed that no further FIRs should be registered against him based on the controversial episode of ‘India’s Got Latent’. However, this protection comes with conditions. Allahbadia has been ordered to deposit his passport with the police and cannot leave the country without the court’s permission.
The controversy erupted after Allahbadia made inappropriate comments during his appearance on comedian Samay Raina’s YouTube show. This led to multiple FIRs being filed against him, Raina, and others involved in the production, in states including Maharashtra and Assam. The outrage prompted Raina to remove all videos of the show from his channel.
Allahbadia, represented by advocate Abhinav Chandrachud, had approached the Supreme Court seeking urgent hearing of the matter, citing death threats and attempts to invade his mother’s clinic. The court, while granting interim protection, also directed Allahbadia to cooperate with the ongoing investigations.
The incident has sparked a broader discussion about content creation and responsibility in the digital age. Actor Sahil Salathia commented on the controversy, highlighting the impact of viral trends and the pursuit of views through sensationalism. As the case continues to unfold, it raises important questions about the limits of free speech, the responsibilities of content creators, and the role of social media platforms in moderating controversial content.