YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, social media influencer Apoorva Makhija, comedian Samay Raina, and the organizers of the online show India’s Got Latent. A complaint has been officially filed against all of them for making so-called offensive and controversial remarks during an episode of the show. Mumbai authorities receive a complaint against YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia and others for offensive comments during a YouTube broadcast.
The complaint has been filed before the Mumbai Commissioner of Police as well as before the Maharashtra Women’s Commission and alleges that the show participants employed abusive and obscene language in a manner that is derogatory towards women. The complainant is said to have requested appropriate authorities to take strict legal action against the accused.
Controversy Stemming from Contested Comments
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The controversy ignited when Ranveer Allahbadia was making some remarks on the YouTube show on India’s Got Latent. Though these remarks were made in the context of a humorous light-hearted exchange, they are considered offensive and derogatory by many viewers. The specific accusation in the compliant is that there were apparently some sexually-perverted jokes made about women’s privy parts, in what seemed to be a design to receive publicity and financial gain through online streaming.
The show, which was broadcasted on YouTube and reached a worldwide audience, depicted the accused laughing and making inappropriately serious comments. According to the complainant, this is very serious. Such content, as stated in the letter to the authorities, would indeed develop this sort of culture and attitude towards women in the audience and would be a bad influence on young viewers, including minors who are possibly exposed to the remarks.
Political and Public Reactions
Political and public responses towards this incident are numerous, as it has sparked criticism from different sections.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was quoted on the incident saying, “I haven’t seen the video yet, but I’ve heard about it. There are some moral lines in our society. Importance of freedom of speech, but it touches someone else’s dignity, that’s where it ends. In such cases where those rules were violated, it should be taken to a legal forum,”.
Previously, Rekha Sharma, the former Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW), also condemned the remarks with, “The video is shocking. Making crude jokes at women’s body or physique is a crime, without having to differentiate between a man or a woman in any society. Clearly, this is a sign that the self-claimed ‘modern’ youth is not keeping any values. Such statements reflect poorly not just on women but also on the creative professions. I’ve sent the video to NCW chairperson for necessary action.”
On the other hand, a Shiv Sena spokesperson Raju Wagamare threatened the producers of the show very clearly: In Maharashtra, under the mention of Shivaji Maharaj, such language will not be tolerated. If it continues, we will act in our own way.
Appeal for Legal Action
The complainant demanded immediate legal action to stop the broadcast of the show and the filing of an FIR against the accused under the relevant sections of the IPC. The complaint stresses that the actions of the participants in the show have gravely injured the dignity and honor of womanhood and must not be taken lightly.
As the investigation proceeds, the authorities are likely to view the video footage and decide the course of action. The event has once again raked up the debates on freedom of speech, responsible content creation, and ethical boundaries of humor in digital media.
