In the latest development of the controversy surrounding the television show “India’s Got Latent,” popular YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani has petitioned the Supreme Court to either quash or transfer a First Information Report (FIR) filed against him in Guwahati. The case, which has gripped the nation’s attention, primarily targets podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia for his contentious remarks during the show, with Chanchlani implicated as a secondary accused.
The FIR in question, registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhtia (BNS), the Information Technology Act, the Cinematograph Act, and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, accuses the participants of engaging in sexually explicit discussions. It was filed at the Cyber Police Station in Guwahati following a complaint lodged against the show’s alleged obscenity.
Chanchlani’s legal team, led by advocate Shubham Kulshreshtha with submissions by advocate Manju Jaitley, argues that the FIR should be dismissed as it was registered subsequent to another FIR on the same issue in Mumbai. The plea, scheduled for a hearing before a Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh, seeks to consolidate or transfer the case to Mumbai, contending jurisdictional concerns and potential biases.
Earlier this week, the Gauhati High Court granted Chanchlani interim bail in relation to his anticipatory bail plea and directed him to cooperate with the investigation by appearing before the investigating officer within a ten-day window.
This legal battle comes after Assam’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, publicly addressed the matter on social media, announcing the registration of FIRs against five prominent content creators, including Allahbadia and Chanchlani. The Chief Minister’s post detailed the charges laid out under the Guwahati Crime Branch’s case.
