THIS son of former CJI to defend Ranveer Allahbadia in supreme court over explosive case

Maharashtra: Popular YouTuber and podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia has approached the Supreme Court seeking protection from multiple FIRs filed against him over alleged obscene remarks made during a recent episode of India’s Got Latent, hosted by comedian Samay Raina. His legal counsel, Abhinav Chandrachud, filed a petition requesting an urgent hearing, citing a summons issued by the Assam Police.

Who is Abhinav Chandrachud?

Abhinav Chandrachud, representing Allahbadia, is a distinguished lawyer practicing at the Bombay High Court. Son of former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, he holds prestigious academic credentials, including a Doctor of the Science of Law (JSD) and a Master of the Science of Law (JSM) from Stanford Law School, where he was a Franklin Family Scholar. Additionally, he obtained an LLM from Harvard Law School as a Dana Scholar. Beyond his legal practice, Chandrachud has worked as an associate attorney at the global law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. He is also a published author, with notable works such as Republic of Rhetoric: Free Speech and the Constitution of India and Supreme Whispers: Conversations with Judges of the Supreme Court of India 1980-1989. His legal opinions have been featured in leading national publications.

A legacy of professional integrity

Former Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, in his farewell speech, recounted an anecdote about Abhinav and his brother Chintan, both lawyers, emphasizing their commitment to ethics. He shared how they declined to argue cases in the Supreme Court while their father was serving as Chief Justice, saying, “Dad, we shall do it after you demit office. Why should we bring disrepute to your name and ours by practicing in SC when you are a judge?” DY Chandrachud praised their decision, calling himself “truly blessed to have children who have that ethos.”

Supreme Court's response and legal charges

A Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar acknowledged the urgency of Allahbadia’s plea but declined to grant an immediate oral hearing. CJI Khanna assured that the matter would be listed for hearing within two to three days, stating that the date had already been assigned. The legal charges against Allahbadia fall under Section 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, which penalizes actions that insult a woman’s modesty through words, gestures, or other means. Additionally, he faces allegations of violating privacy laws related to women’s rights. As the controversy surrounding India’s Got Latent escalates, Allahbadia’s legal battle will be closely watched, with implications for online content regulation and free speech debates in India.