India's Got Latent controversy sparks debate on ethics and boundaries in digital content

Mumbai: Social media influencer Ranveer Allahbadia and others associated with a YouTube reality show appeared headed for legal trouble after two complaints were filed on Monday in Mumbai and Guwahati over his crass comments that triggered an outrage and forced him to apologise.

The complaints, one with the police and another with a city court were filed separately by Congress and BJP members in Mumbai.

Allahbadia's distasteful comments on parents and sex led to massive outrage across the spectrum, prompting the YouTuber with almost 16 million followers on social media platforms to apologise. The remarks were made on the YouTube reality show "India's Got Latent" hosted by comedian Samay Raina, popular amongst some sections for its often offensive content.

The flip remark intended for quick laughs raised hackles instead with politicians, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, activists, social media users and others calling for a ban and slamming him for being crass, vulgar and offensive.

BJP functionary Nilotpal Mrinal Pandey, in his complaint to the Khar police, named Allahbadia, Raina, YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani, makers, judges and participants of the show, and accused them of using derogatory language on the show, an official said.

He submitted a video in a pen drive along with the written complaint, the official said.

Pandey alleged the show promotes abusive language, vulgarity and nudity, and sought action in the matter.

No case has been registered so far, but Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 9) Dixit Gedam said an inquiry was underway into the complaint.

The second complaint was filed before a Bandra court by Nikhil Ruparel, a member of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), a Congress wing, against the reality show "India's Got Latent", its judges and participants, including Allahbadia and Raina, over the use of abusive language and vulgar content.

Ruparel urged the court to take cognizance of offences under sections 296 (obscene acts), 352 (intentional insult) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act and issue process (summons) against those named in the complaint.

Further, the court may be pleased to order an investigation/inquiry into the matter under the BNS provisions, the plea, filed through an advocate, said.

The complaint maintained the controversial remarks contribute to the normalisation of indecent conversations, desensitise individuals to inappropriate discourse, and erode the fundamental principles of respect, dignity, and decency in society.

"The accused, throughout the show, consistently used abusive language, which not only involved offensive and vulgar words but also conveyed such statements that negatively affect societal interactions," it added.

Besides Raina and Allahbadia, comedians Chanchalani and Apoorva Makhija have also been named in the court complaint.

In mounting trouble for him, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) member Priyank Kanoongo wrote to YouTube's head of public policy in India and asked for "urgent action".

"The complaint highlights concerns regarding the show's propagation of negativity, discriminatory perspectives, religious and cultural intolerance, and disrespectful and obscene ideologies, particularly towards women and children.

"It is further alleged that, under the guise of freedom of speech, the show disseminates obscene and vulgar content along with misleading messages, thereby fostering a corrupt mindset in society," he wrote.

The content in question "prima face appears to be in violation" of various legal provisions under the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Information Technology (IT) Act and other applicable laws, the letter reads.

An official from the National Commission for Women (NCW) said they were looking into the matter. The Maharashtra chief minister said he hadn't seen the clip in question but cautioned people about the limits of freedom of speech.

"Everyone has the freedom of speech but our freedom ends when we encroach upon the freedom of others... In our society, we have made some rules, it is absolutely wrong if someone violates them. Action should be taken against them," Fadnavis told reporters.

Allahbadia, whose podcasts feature the rich and the famous, including top Bollywood stars, was one of the online content creators who received a National Creators Award from Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an event in New Delhi last year. He had earlier partnered with the Digital India Corporation to interview a series of cabinet ministers, including S Jaishankar and Piyush Goyal.

Writer-storyteller Neelesh Misra shared the controversial clip on his X page and said, "Meet the perverted creators who are shaping our country's creative economy."

"... Banal, crass, and insensitive are words only for boring uncool people. These creators can say anything in the name of freedom of speech and get away with it," he added.

Sharing Misra's post, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said on X, "This isn’t creative. It’s a pervert. And we can’t normalise perverse behaviour as cool. The fact that this sick comment met loud applause must worry us all."

Ashutosh J Dubey, head of the BJP Maharashtra social media legal and advisory department, added on X that he has written to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting requesting "an investigation into inappropriate content" by Allahbadia, Raina and his team.

Allahbadia also faced criticism from his own community with many like Dhruv Rathee, also a popular content creator, saying shows like "India's Got Latent" have the same impact on "moral decay of society as films like 'Animal' and they need to be called out".

"The only purpose is to shock and disgust audiences for views, which is having a disastrous impact on the moral development of our youth. However, calling for any govt bans for this is not the solution as it may usher in a harsh censorship regime. Instead, we need to pressurize content creators to make better content," Rathee wrote on X.

A user on X said Allahbadia doesn't deserve to be "respected and followed".

"So unfollowing will be a msg to him. Pls, take a social action against the bad social star. Spread it. #Beerbiceps." Another said she has unsubscribed both Allahbadia and Raina.

Many on social media also shared a clip from a British comedy show "OG Truth or Drink" to claim that Allahbadia had copied his controversial lines from the woman anchor on it.