Guwahati Police have lodged a First Information Report against comedian Samay Raina and the judging panel of his show, ‘India’s Got Latent’, under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita . The FIR names YouTubers Ashish Chanchlani, Jaspreet Singh, Apoorva Makhija, and Ranveer Allahbadia, accusing them of promoting obscenity and engaging in sexually explicit discussions.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the development on social media, stating that the Guwahati Crime Branch has registered a case under various sections of the BNS 2023, the Information Technology Act 2000, the Cinematograph Act 1952, and the Indecent Representation of Women Act 1986. He confirmed that the police investigation into the matter is ongoing.
‘India’s Got Latent’, launched in June 2024 by Samay Raina on his YouTube channel, is a talent show that provides a platform for contestants across the country to showcase their hidden talents. The show has gained popularity for its diversity in showcasing talent from different regions of India and has been praised for its ability to discover unique talents that might not have been recognized in mainstream entertainment.
However, the show has faced several controversies. In October 2024, during an episode, Rakhi Sawant threw a chair on stage after getting into an argument with Maheep Singh. The episode hasn’t been released on YouTube. In another instance, during Santosh Patra’s performance in Season 1, Episode 6, the judges endorsed derogatory remarks about disabled people, leading to public outrage and defamation notices against five comedians associated with the show.
In November 2024, contestant Banti Banerjee made controversial remarks about actress Deepika Padukone’s battle with depression, which were initially endorsed by the judges and audience but later sparked online debate and outrage. Host Samay Raina responded to the backlash by encouraging critics to express their outrage in his YouTube comment section to generate ad revenue from the traction.
The current FIR stems from a bonus episode featuring guest judges Ashish Chanchlani, Jaspreet Singh, Apoorva Makhija, and Ranveer Allahbadia. During the episode, Allahbadia posed a question to a contestant that led to significant backlash on social media. A police complaint was filed against Allahbadia for promoting obscenity and using offensive language. The complaint was submitted to the Mumbai Police Commissioner and the National Commission for Women, following which the Mumbai Police initiated an inquiry and registered an FIR against Allahbadia, Makhija, and Raina.
Facing widespread criticism, Allahbadia issued a video apology, acknowledging his poor judgment and confirming that the controversial segments had been removed from the show’s recording. He admitted that his attempt at humor was both inappropriate and unfunny, conceding that comedy isn’t his strength.
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