Vulgar joke fallout: Mumbai police investigates Ranveer Allahbadia's 'India's Got Latent' comments

Maharashtra: YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, known as BeerBiceps, faces severe backlash and legal trouble after making an inappropriate comment on Samay Raina's show 'India's Got Latent,' sparking debates about content creation standards and ethical boundaries.The controversy has drawn criticism from political leaders, led to a police investigation, and prompted discussions in parliament, raising questions about freedom of speech and the responsibility of content creators.

From Shocking Remark to Social Media Firestorm

The controversy began when Ranveer Allahbadia, while appearing as a judge on comedian Samay Raina's YouTube show 'India's Got Latent,' posed a sexually suggestive and inappropriate question to a contestant involving their parents. The remark, widely deemed vulgar and offensive, quickly went viral, triggering a massive wave of criticism and condemnation across social media platforms. Journalist Neelesh Misra criticized the "perverted creators" shaping India's creative economy, highlighting the lack of responsibility among platform creators and the incentivization of indecency.

Legal Action and Police Investigation

The online outrage swiftly transitioned into legal action, with a formal complaint filed against Ranveer Allahbadia, Apoorva Makhija, Samay Raina, and the show's organizers with the Mumbai Commissioner and Maharashtra Women's Commission. The complaint demands strict action for allegedly using abusive language on the show. Mumbai Police have reached Allahbadia's residence to investigate the matter, and both Allahbadia and Raina have been asked to join the probe. An FIR has also been filed in Assam against Allahbadia and others involved in the show.

Political Leaders React and Parliamentary Scrutiny

The controversy has garnered attention from political leaders across the spectrum. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that while everyone has freedom of speech, it ends when encroaching upon others' freedom, and action will be taken if limits are crossed. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed about the FIR filed against Allahbadia and others. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be careful about who he promotes, referring to the 'Disruptor of the Year' award given to Allahbadia at last year's Digital Creators Awards. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has vowed to raise the issue in parliament and the standing committee for Communications and IT, emphasizing the need for self-regulation among content creators.

Apology and Aftermath

In response to the widespread backlash, Ranveer Allahbadia issued an apology, admitting a lapse in judgment and acknowledging that his comment was inappropriate and not funny. He stated that he has requested the makers of the video to remove the insensitive portions and promised to use his platform better. Singer B Praak has cancelled his planned appearance on Allahbadia's show, and the controversial video has reportedly been taken down from YouTube.