Supreme Court stays arrest of Ranveer Allahbadia but bars him from doing shows

The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the arrest of YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, better known as BeerBiceps, in the first information reports (FIRS) registered against him in Maharashtra, Assam and Rajasthan for his obscene and vulgar remarks made during a recent episode of the show India’s Got Latent. .Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh passed the order after Allahbadia moved the Court to club various FIRs and sought interim protection.The Court allowed interim protection but directed Allahbadia (petitioner) to cooperate with the probe in all the cases and also restrained him from doing any other show for the time being."Arrest of petitioner under the Mumbai and Guwahati FIRs shall be stayed subject condition that shall join investigation as and when summoned. Interim protection from arrest is granted on the premise that full cooperation has to be given without any lawyer inside police station," the Court ordered.This is further subject to the condition that petitioner and his associates shall not do any other show for the time being, the Court added.Pertinently, the Court also ordered that no further FIR should be registered against Allahbadia for the controversial episode and his remarks on the show..Order in a nutshell.- Arrest of Allahbadia stayed in all FIRs registered against him;- No further FIR shall be registered against him on the basis of India's got Latent show which was cause of FIR;- Allahbadia shall be at liberty to approach local police of Maharashtra and Assam for protection of life and liberty in case of any threat impeding him to join probe;- If any other FIR is registered in Jaipur, the arrest shall remain stayed in that FIR as well;- Allahbadia shall deposit his passport with the Thane police;- He should not leave the country without the permission of the Supreme Court;- Allahbadia and his associates shall not do any other show for the time being..The Bench was also critical of Allahbadia's words and conduct on the show."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 to. Rule of law and system has to be followed. He should be ashamed as to what he has done to his parents. We are not in ivory towers and we know how he copied and Australian show content. There are warnings in such shows," the Court remarked..The words you have chosen, parents will feel ashamed. Daughters and sisters will feel ashamed.Supreme Court.Background.The controversial episode shot on November 14, 2024 at Khar Habitat but aired recently, saw consistent use of abusive language by the show’s panel, including Allahbadia, comedian Samay Raina, YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani and others.FIRs were registered against Allahbadia in Maharashtra, Assam and Rajasthan following the controversy.He then approached the Supreme Court by way of Article 32..Hearing in detail.During the hearing today, Advocate Abhinav Chandrachud, appearing for Allahbadia, said that the YouTuber has been receiving death threats, all for a 10-second video clip."Petitioner has got death threats. ₹5 lakh reward for cutting his tongue. Former wrestler says he should not be spared in any party we meet him. All for a 10-second clip," Chandrachud said.However, the Court was not only unsympathetic to the same but also questioned Allahbadia's choice of language and conduct. "Are you defending the language used?" Justice Kant demanded."As an officer of the court, I am disgusted by the language used," Chandrachud replied. "So what are the parameters of obscenity and vulgarity? In a society which has some self evolved values and when we behave within those parameters, we want to know what are the parameters of Indian society according to the petitioner," the Bench said.The Bench said that the language used prima facie amounted to obscenity."If this is not obscene, then what is ? You can show your vulgarity anytime and show the depravity.." Justice Kant remarked. The Court also remarked that there seemed to be only two FIRs in relation to the matter and the YouTuber can defend himself separately in both."There are only two FIRs. One in Mumbai and one in Assam. Liberty is a separate issue. It is not that every case is targeted you and your are entangled. Suppose 100 firs are there he can say he cannot defend himself," the Court said."A third FIR was registered on Sunday," Chandrachud pointed out.However, the Court said that the allegations in the FIR are different."There are some allegations in one FIR and not in another. He used obscene and filthy language against Governor of Arunachal Pradesh. So allegations are different. If you kill one person and attempt to kill another the both 302 and 307 will be invoked," the Court stated.It further noted that the person cannot take advantage of his popularity to take the society for granted."Such behaviour has to be condemned. Just because you are popular you cannot take the society for granted. Is there anyone on earth who will like this language. There is something very dirt in his mind which has been vomitted. Why should we protect him?" Justice Kant asked.The Court further opined that there are no multiple FIRs but only two FIRs and Allahbadia can defend himself separately in both cases."If there are only two or three FIRs then you defend yourself. Once you are entangled in so many FIRs there is a strong impediment against your right to defend yourself and thus court must protect you. But only because a litigant can afford and approach Supreme court then I would like to know can court intervene in such a case," the Bench queried.The Court also refused to take into account the death threats as a ground to grant relief."One of the court accused has been threatened with acid attacks," Chandrachud pointed out."That is okay. Threats are there everyday. State can take any action," the Court said.Chandrachud then highlighted one of the threats against Allahbadia."Ranveer Allahabadia ka zubaan kaatne wale ko milega 5 lakh."However, the Bench did not show any sympathy. "So what you uttered such words for popularity and now threats are also issued for the same. There were also threats against a sitting CM and we proceeded against him also we knew the threat giver was a poor fellow," Justice Kant pointed out.Nevertheless, the Court eventually issued notice to the respondent-States and granted Allahbadia interim protection from arrest..[Read Live Coverage].[Read Order]