New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted interim protection from arrest to YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, aka ‘The Beer Biceps’, in the cases registered against him for his remarks on the ‘India’s Got Latent’ show, but condemned him for “vomiting dirt in his mind”, and restrained him from doing any other shows for the time being.
A bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh made the observation while hearing the plea of Allahbadia to club multiple FIRs filed in Mumbai, Guwahati and Jaipur, against him in the crass comment issue. The top court said such behaviour had to be condemned despite being popular. The court also stated that Allahbadia’s “parents having sex” remarks showed his “pervert mind that made the entire society feel ashamed”.
Here’s updates on what happened in the court:
- The apex court said no FIRs would be filed against Allahbadia on the same set of allegations.
- The court asked him to join the probe, and not leave the country without permission. The court also asked him to deposit his passport at Thane police station.
- Calling the joke “condemnable, reprehensive and d
irty”, the top court said there should be responsibility in making such statements. - The court also warned Allahbadia that he should not take society for granted. “Have you got the licence to speak these kinds of things,” the bench asked.
- The Supreme Court said if any other FIR was registered against Allahbadia in Jaipur, then his arrest would be paused in that complaint as well.
- Abhinav Chandrachud, the son of former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, represented Allahbadia. While doing so, Chandrachud said his client had received death threats and cited an instance wherein a Rs 5 lakh reward was declared for those who would cut the podcaster’s tongue.
- To this, the top court hit back at Chandrachud and questioned whether he was defending the language used by the podcaster. But the advocate said he himself was “disgusted personally” by the obscene remarks.
- Justice Kant lashed out at the podcaster and said, “The words you have chosen, parents will feel ashamed. Daughters and sisters will feel ashamed. The entire society will be ashamed. These are the levels of depravity you and your henchmen have gone. The rule of law and system has to be followed.”
- The Supreme Court said Allahbadia copied the remark from an Australian show. “See the language he used for parents! We also know from where he copied. We are not sitting in ivory tower. We know he picked it up from an Australian show. When you are doing it, you should also see what kind of precautions they take,” the bench said.