The Supreme Court on Monday granted relief to popular podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, popularly known as BeerBiceps, by allowing the return of his passport to facilitate work-related international travel. This marks a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings against him, stemming from multiple FIRs related to his controversial comments during a YouTube appearance.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh relaxed the earlier restriction on Allahbadia’s passport after both the Assam and Maharashtra governments informed the court that investigations against him had been completed. The court directed Allahbadia to approach the Maharashtra Cyber Police Bureau for the return of his passport.
The top court also stated that it would consider a plea from Allahbadia’s legal counsel, senior advocate Abhinav Chandrachud, to consolidate multiple FIRs filed across different states into a single jurisdiction. The matter is expected to be taken up in the next hearing.
On February 18, the Supreme Court had granted Allahbadia interim protection from arrest in connection with the FIRs filed over his remarks on sex and parenting, made during comedian Samay Raina’s YouTube show India’s Got Latent. The court had described his comments as “vulgar” and indicative of a “dirty mind” that brought shame to society.
As part of the interim measures, the court had directed Allahbadia to deposit his passport with the Nodal Cyber Police Station in Thane and restrained him from airing any content on his podcast, The Ranveer Show, that could influence the sub-judice matter.
However, on March 3, the court allowed Allahbadia to resume his podcast, provided it upheld “morality and decency” and remained appropriate for viewers of all age groups.
In addition to Allahbadia and Samay Raina, the FIR in Assam also names other comedians and content creators including Ashish Chanchlani, Jaspreet Singh, and Apoorva Makhija.
The case continues to raise questions about the balance between creative freedom and societal responsibility in the age of digital content.
Sources By Agencies