The Supreme Court on Tuesday provided temporary relief to YouTuber and podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, popularly known as 'BeerBiceps,' granting him protection from arrest over his controversial remarks during an appearance on comedian Samay Raina's show, India's Got Latent.
The Court, while shielding him from immediate arrest, reprimanded Allahbadia for his "perverted" comments, which it deemed to have embarrassed society at large.
The case revolves around a crude joke made by Allahbadia on the India's Got Latent show, in which he asked a contestant, "Would you rather watch your parents have sex every day for the rest of your life, or join in once to make it stop forever?" This statement sparked outrage across India, prompting multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) to be filed against the YouTuber in cities including Mumbai, Guwahati, and Jaipur.
Court's stern remarks
A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh expressed deep dissatisfaction with the nature of Allahbadia's comments. Justice Kant sharply criticized the YouTuber, stating, "Your words reflect a perverted mind that has made the entire society feel ashamed. Parents will feel ashamed, daughters and sisters will feel ashamed. The whole of society should feel embarrassed by the depravity you have shown."
Despite condemning his behavior, the Court granted Allahbadia protection from arrest and ruled that no further FIRs could be filed against him over the same allegations. The Court also imposed restrictions on him, ordering him to refrain from participating in any other shows for the time being. The bench emphasized that Allahbadia must cooperate with investigations and requested him to deposit his passport with Thane police, preventing him from leaving the country without prior permission.
Legal representation and death threats
Allahbadia’s legal representative, Abhinav Chandrachud, the son of former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, told the Court that his client had received multiple death threats following the controversy. He cited an example of a reward of Rs 5 lakh being offered for those who would cut Allahbadia's tongue. Despite these claims, the Court questioned whether Chandrachud was defending the language used by Allahbadia, to which the advocate admitted to being personally "disgusted" by the remarks.
The Court, however, responded harshly to the defense, noting that Allahbadia had "vomited dirt" in his mind and had made a mockery of responsible speech. "Have you got the licence to speak such things?" the bench asked.
Remarks draw public outrage
The controversy surrounding Allahbadia's remarks has led to widespread condemnation, with many politicians, social activists, and experts calling for stricter regulation of content on digital platforms. The Supreme Court acknowledged that the joke was lifted from an Australian show, but it noted that proper precautions had been taken in that country to avoid offending sensibilities.
In light of the uproar, Allahbadia issued a public apology, admitting that his comments were inappropriate and acknowledged that they were not funny. He promised to exercise more responsibility in his future use of the platform.
Meanwhile, YouTube took down the episodes featuring the controversial segment after receiving a notice from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The issue has sparked an ongoing debate in India regarding the boundaries of freedom of speech, particularly in the context of unregulated digital content.
The Court also ordered that Allahbadia cooperate with the investigation into the FIRs filed in the respective cities. The Court made it clear that should additional FIRs be registered against him in Jaipur, his arrest would be paused in those cases as well. Allahbadia was also directed to approach the Maharashtra and Assam police if he faced any threats, allowing for protection to be provided to him and his family.
The case continues to highlight the challenges posed by digital content creators in India, where the balance between freedom of speech and responsible content remains a topic of intense scrutiny.
