NEW DELHI: The Maharashtra government has launched an inquiry into the controversy surrounding YouTuber and podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia.
The state’s cultural department, led by minister Ashish Shelar, has been tasked with investigating complaints regarding alleged vulgarity in the show India’s Got Latent and similar programs operating without proper permissions.
Officials confirmed receiving multiple complaints about explicit content in India’s Got Latent, prompting Minister Shelar to convene a meeting, after which he ordered a thorough investigation.
Mumbai Police have asked Allahbadia to appear before them on Saturday. Teams of Mumbai and Assam police on Friday visited his residence here but found the flat locked, an official said.
Ranveer Allahbadia has been at the center of a heated debate following remarks made on the show, which has long faced criticism for its use of dark humor that some find offensive.
Amid the backlash, Allahbadia on Friday approached the Supreme Court, seeking to consolidate multiple FIRs filed against him across India. His legal counsel, Senior Advocate Abhinav Chandrachud, mentioned the matter before a bench led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, highlighting that Assam Police had summoned Allahbadia while multiple cases were lodged against him.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MP Naresh Ganpat Mhaske has called for stricter regulations on digital platforms in response to the controversy. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Mhaske emphasized the need for better enforcement of guidelines to curb obscene and inflammatory content. He stated that while social media influencers have the right to free expression, they must respect India’s cultural and traditional values, warning that crossing the line would lead to public backlash.
Amid mounting criticism, Allahbadia issued a public apology via a video on X, acknowledging that his comments were “inappropriate and insensitive.” He admitted, “My comment wasn’t just inappropriate; it wasn’t even funny. Comedy is not my forte, I am just here to say sorry.” Addressing concerns about his influence on younger audiences, he pledged to use his platform more responsibly. “Family is the last thing that I would ever disrespect,” he added.
Allahbadia has also urged the producers of India’s Got Latent to remove the controversial portions of the episode. “I have asked the makers of the video to remove the insensitive sections from the video. All I can say in the end is sorry, I hope you can forgive me as a human being,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Police reported difficulty in reaching Allahbadia, stating that his phone was switched off, his house locked, and his lawyer unresponsive.
On February 11, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma revealed that Guwahati Police had registered an FIR against Allahbadia, along with other social media influencers such as Samay Raina, Ashish Chanchlani, Jaspreet Singh, and Apoorva Makhija, over allegations of promoting obscenity on India’s Got Latent. Similar FIRs have been registered in Maharashtra and Assam.
(With inputs from agencies)