The Supreme Court refused to release the passport of YouTuber and Podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia after a complaint was filed against him over his controversial remarks in an episode of India’s Got Latent.
The apex court on Tuesday said that it will consider Ranveer Allahbadia’s plea for the release of his passport after two weeks.
The court made the remark after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the top court that the investigation in the case is likely to be over in two weeks.
A bench comprising Justices Suryakant and N Kotishwar Singh stated that the request would only be considered once the investigation into the controversial remarks, made during an episode of their now-deleted podcast ‘India’s Got Latent’, is completed.
The Court extended its interim order of granting protection to the podcaster from arrest in the FIRs registered against him in Guwahati, Mumbai, and Jaipur.
In his plea before the court, Senior advocate Abhinav Chandrachud, representing Ranveer Allahbadia, had sought a modification in the condition for depositing his passport, saying that it affected his livelihood.
He also filed an undertaking in the Supreme Court saying he would maintain decency in his shows.
The senior counsel said Allahbadia had to travel abroad to interview different people, which required holding several rounds of meetings.
The bench said if Allahbadia went abroad, it was bound to affect the investigation and asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Maharashtra and Assam governments, about the time-frame to complete the probe.
On March 7, Allahbadia appeared before the Crime Branch of the Guwahati Police Commissionerate as part of an investigation into the show.
The Guwahati Police filed an FIR on February 10 against several influencers, including Allahbadia, charging them under the Indian Penal Code, Information Technology Act, and Cinematograph Act for promoting obscenity and indecent representation of women.
Although he issued an apology, multiple complaints were registered against him.
ALSO READ: SC allows YouTuber Ranveer Allahabadia to resume ‘The Ranveer Show’ with decency
On March 3, the Supreme Court allowed Ranveer Allahbadia to resume uploading his podcasts and shows on social media, but had also ordered him to submit an undertaking that his podcast ‘The Ranveer Show’ would maintain ‘morality and decency’ and also be suitable for all ages.
