SC allows Ranveer Allahbadia to resume show, tells him Fundamental Rights Don’t Come On A Platter But With Certain Restrictions

The Supreme Court, on Monday, granted permission to podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia to continue airing his popular show, The Ranveer Show, while imposing a key condition that he must ensure the content maintains “morality and decency” and is appropriate for audiences of all age groups. The decision came with the stipulation that Allahbadia provide an undertaking to this effect.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh took into consideration Allahbadia’s plea, in which he highlighted that his podcast was his primary source of income. He also underscored the fact that approximately 280 individuals were employed under him, making them dependent on the show’s continued operation. The court acknowledged these concerns and allowed him to resume airing his podcast, subject to the conditions mentioned.

In addition to permitting him to continue his podcast, the Supreme Court also extended the interim protection from arrest that had previously been provided to Allahbadia. However, the court directed him to cooperate with the investigation being conducted in Guwahati. The bench made it clear that he must present himself as required for the ongoing inquiry.

During the proceedings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared on behalf of the Centre and several states, including Maharashtra, Assam, and Odisha, strongly opposed any relaxation of the restrictions placed on Allahbadia. Mehta argued that the controversial remarks made during the YouTube show India’s Got Latent, in which Allahbadia had participated, were not only vulgar but also perverse. He urged the court not to lift the restriction preventing him from broadcasting content.

“Let him remain silent for some time,” Mehta remarked, emphasizing the need for restraint in such matters.

Addressing Allahbadia’s legal counsel, senior advocate Abhinav Chandrachud, the bench made a pointed remark about the responsibilities that come with fundamental rights. Justice Surya Kant reminded that constitutional freedoms are not granted “on a platter” and are always subject to reasonable restrictions.

The court also took note of the fact that one of the accused individuals connected to the case had traveled to Canada and publicly spoken about the matter. Expressing concern over such actions, Justice Surya Kant cautioned, “These youngsters may think that we are outdated, but we know how to deal with them. Don’t take the court lightly.”

Following these observations, the bench issued an explicit directive restraining Allahbadia from making any statements or comments regarding the ongoing case on his podcast or other public platforms. This restriction was put in place to ensure that the legal process is not influenced or undermined in any manner.

Additionally, the Supreme Court directed the Central Government to formulate a draft regulatory framework for monitoring and regulating content on social media platforms. The court instructed that this draft should be made available for public review and that inputs from all relevant stakeholders should be gathered before finalizing the guidelines.

However, the bench declined to grant Allahbadia permission to travel abroad at this time. The judges clarified that his request to leave the country would be reconsidered only after he fully complied with the requirement to join the investigation in Guwahati.

Multiple FIRs have been filed against Ranveer Allahbadia, who is widely known by his online alias, BeerBiceps, due to remarks he made about parents and sex while appearing on comedian Samay Raina’s YouTube show, India’s Got Latent. The controversy surrounding these comments led to legal action against him in multiple states.

Earlier, on February 18, the Supreme Court had provided interim protection from arrest to Allahbadia while making sharp remarks about the nature of his statements. At that time, the court described his comments as “vulgar” and asserted that he had a “dirty mind” that disgraced society. This strong criticism from the judiciary underscored the severity with which the court viewed the issue.

With the latest developments, Allahbadia has been granted a conditional reprieve, but the matter remains under judicial scrutiny, with further proceedings expected as the investigation progresses.