Supreme Court Greenlights Ranveer Allahbadia’s Podcast Airing After Filthy Language Row
In a major win for YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, the Supreme Court on Monday lifted restrictions on his popular podcast, The Ranveer Show, allowing him to resume airing episodes. The decision comes with a catch—he must maintain “morality and decency” in his content. This ruling ends a weeks-long legal battle sparked by his controversial remarks on the now-deleted YouTube show India’s Got Latent.
Back on February 18, the Supreme Court had barred Allahbadia from hosting any shows after his “filthy” comments triggered outrage and multiple FIRs in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Assam. The court had granted him interim protection from arrest but slammed his language, saying, “Freedom of speech has limits. Using foul words isn’t humor.” Justices Surya Kant and N.K. Singh stressed that while fundamental rights are guaranteed, they come with responsibilities.
Allahbadia’s lawyer, Abhinav Chandrachud, argued that podcasting is his client’s livelihood, not comedy. “He employs many people—families depend on this,” Chandrachud told the court. The plea resonated, with the bench noting, “If he wants to run a program, he can, subject to keeping it decent.” This shift offers relief to Allahbadia and his 280 employees, whose jobs were at risk.
The prosecution, led by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, had pushed for a longer ban, arguing Allahbadia’s association with the offensive show warranted silence. “Let him stay quiet for some time,” Mehta urged. However, the court disagreed, balancing livelihood concerns with a stern warning on content standards.
The India’s Got Latent controversy erupted when Allahbadia’s crude remarks went viral, prompting FIRs and death threats. He issued a public apology, admitting his “lapse in judgment,” but faced probes from Mumbai and Guwahati police. Alongside him, YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani also sought to club FIRs in the same case, which the court is addressing.
For now, Allahbadia can return to his 10.4 million YouTube subscribers, but under strict scrutiny. The ruling underscores a broader debate on free speech versus decency in India’s digital space, with the court hinting at future content regulations.
