The Supreme Court on Monday strongly criticized comedian Samay Raina for discussing the controversy surrounding his show 'India's Got Latent' while performing in Canada. The court remarked that the younger generation often believes they are "too clever." This came during a hearing on a petition involving podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, who sparked a major controversy last month with inappropriate comments on Raina’s show.
“These young, overconfident individuals think they know everything… One of them even went to Canada and spoke about this,” remarked Justice Surya Kant.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta added, "Yes, he (Raina) traveled abroad and mocked these proceedings."
Justice Surya Kant further cautioned, “Perhaps they are unaware of the extent of this court’s jurisdiction,” and issued a stern warning for content creators to "conduct themselves properly."
"Behave, or we will take necessary action," he warned.
During his ‘Samay Raina Unfiltered’ tour in Canada last month, Raina had jokingly referenced the controversy, quipping to the audience, "Thanks for paying my lawyer’s fees."
Controversy Over Offensive Comments
The controversy erupted last month when Ranveer Allahbadia, widely recognized as The BeerBiceps Guy, made crude remarks about parents and relationships during an episode of 'India’s Got Latent'. The comments ignited widespread backlash and were even discussed in Parliament, leading to multiple complaints against the YouTuber.
Legal cases were subsequently filed against several YouTubers who appeared on the show, including Raina, Ashish Chanchlani, Jaspreet Singh, and Apoorva Mukhija.
Following the outrage, the episode was promptly removed from YouTube. Raina later released a statement confirming he had taken down all episodes of the show and was "fully cooperating" with the authorities. Allahbadia also issued a public apology, acknowledging that his remarks were "not just inappropriate but also not even funny." The Supreme Court, however, barred the 31-year-old content creator from producing any further shows.
Court Balances Free Speech and Content Regulation
In a recent ruling, the Supreme Court lifted restrictions on Allahbadia, allowing him to resume his podcast, 'The Ranveer Show.' The bench emphasized the importance of balancing freedom of expression with moral responsibility. The court also urged the central government to consider this principle while drafting guidelines for digital content regulation in the wake of the controversy.