The Assam Police have registered an FIR against five well-known YouTubers and social media influencers for allegedly sharing obscene and sexually explicit content on the online reality show India’s Got Latent. The move follows widespread public outrage over inappropriate remarks made on the show. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the criminal charges on Monday, emphasizing that Assam would not tolerate the dissemination of vulgar and offensive content online. The Guwahati Crime Branch has booked Ashish Chanchlani, Jaspreet Singh, Apoorva Makhija, Ranveer Allahbadia, and Samay Raina under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, Information Technology (IT) Act, Cinematograph Act, and Indecent Representation of Women Act.
The controversy erupted after an episode of India’s Got Latent featured an offensive question posed by Allahbadia to a contestant, which many viewers found highly inappropriate. The remark sparked outrage on social media, with several users demanding strict action against the show’s creators and participants. The issue has also taken a political turn, with Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi for previously endorsing social media personalities like those involved in the controversy. “The Prime Minister of India must be expected to be more responsible when engaging with online influencers,” Gogoi wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Following the backlash, Ranveer Allahbadia issued a video apology, admitting that his comment was inappropriate and not meant as a joke. “I regret my words. I never intended to offend anyone,” he said. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condemned the incident, stressing that while freedom of speech is essential, it must be exercised responsibly. The show is now facing multiple legal complaints, including one filed with the Maharashtra Women’s Commission, which accuses the platform of deliberately using obscene content for financial gain.