Guwahati: The Supreme Court on Friday requested responses from Maharashtra and Assam governments regarding YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani’s petition to nullify or relocate an FIR filed in Guwahati in connection with a case of allegedly promoting obscenity in an online show.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh issued notice and combined Chanchlani’s petition with influencer Ranveer Allahbadia’s case.
Initially, the bench told Chanchlani’s counsel that he was already granted bail in the matter.
The legal representative acknowledged the bail but contested the registration of multiple FIRs related to a single programme.
The bench acknowledged its consideration of the matter and consolidated Chanchlani’s petition.
On Tuesday, the Gauhati High Court approved interim bail for Chanchlani during his anticipatory bail hearing, directing him to appear before the investigating officer within 10 days.
The Guwahati Police registered the FIR on February 10 following an individual’s complaint under various sections of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhtia (BNS), Information Technology Act, Cinematograph Act and Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act.
ALSO READ: Supreme Court grants interim protection to YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia from arrest
On February 18, the Supreme Court provided interim protection from arrest to podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia regarding his YouTube show comments, describing them as “vulgar” and stating he had “dirty mind” which disgraced society.
Multiple FIRs were registered against Allahbadia, known as BeerBiceps, for his remarks about parents and sex on Samay Raina’s YouTube programme “India’s Got Latent”.
