Mumbai and Assam Police teams visited the residence of popular YouTuber and podcaster, Ranveer Allahbadia, on Friday as part of an ongoing investigation into his controversial remarks. The visit, however, ended with the police finding his flat locked and unoccupied. Authorities had arrived in the morning, but after no response, they returned to the Khar police station without any further action.
Allahbadia, best known for his ‘BeerBiceps’ YouTube channel, came under fire for making inappropriate comments about parents and sex during an episode of comedian Samay Raina’s now-deleted show, ‘India’s Got Latent.’ His remarks sparked outrage, leading to multiple FIRs being filed against him and Raina in both Assam and Mumbai.
According to police sources, the authorities initially asked Allahbadia to report to the Khar police station on Thursday for questioning, but he did not show up. They issued a second summons for Friday, but the police teams could not reach him at his residence. The authorities had previously declined Allahbadia’s request to have his statement recorded at his home.
In the wake of the controversy, Allahbadia issued a public apology, acknowledging his lapse in judgment and expressing regret for the comments. Similarly, Samay Raina also distanced himself from the episode by deleting all its videos from his channel. He took to social media to express his overwhelming emotions, stating that his only intention was to entertain, and pledged full cooperation with the investigating agencies.
The controversy gained traction after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed that the Guwahati Police filed an FIR against several YouTubers, including Allahbadia, for promoting obscenity and engaging in sexually explicit discussions on the show. The Guwahati Police are handling the case under multiple sections related to obscenity, including provisions of the Information Technology Act and the Cinematograph Act.
In Mumbai, the Maharashtra Cyber Crime Department has launched its own investigation, summoning at least 50 people connected to the incident. Several participants, including Allahbadia’s manager, Apoorva Makhija, and other prominent figures such as Raghu Ram, have already recorded their statements.
The police investigation continues, with authorities examining whether the content of the show crossed legal boundaries, particularly regarding decency and representation of women. As the case progresses, it raises questions about the responsibility of online influencers and content creators when engaging in potentially harmful discussions.
Allahbadia’s failure to appear for questioning and the ongoing legal action underscore the seriousness of the case, with both local and national authorities closely monitoring the situation.
