New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday declined a request for an urgent hearing on a plea of YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia.
After being caught in the crass comment controversy, the podcaster moved the top court seeking the clubbing of multiple FIRs filed against him in different states. The complaints were lodged in connection with an obscene joke on the reality show ‘India’s Got Latent’ which sparked a massive backlash.
Advocate Abhinav Chandrachud, appearing for Ranveer Allahbadia, sought urgent listing of the matter on the grounds that the poscaster has been summoned by Assam Police on Friday.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, however, said the matter would be taken up as per procedure and listed in two-three days. “Oral mentioning of the case is not permitted,” the CJI said, according to reports.
The Maharashtra cyber cell, the Mumbai Police and the Assam Police have issued summons to Allahbadia and others after filing FIRs against them.
The Maharashtra Cyber Department filed a case against Allahbadia and 29 others in connection with the YouTube show. Meanwhile, the Mumbai Police has, so far, recorded statements of Apoorva Makhija and Ashish Chanchlani. Ranveer Allahbadia is yet to appear before Mumbai Police.
The Assam Police, in its FIR, named Ranveer Allahbadia and four others for allegedly “promoting obscenity and engaging in sexually explicit and vulgar discussion” on the show. The Assam Police has also reached Mumbai to interrogate those involved in the case.