Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 20 : The Maharashtra Cyber Department has confirmed that it will issue a second summons to YouTuber Samay Raina regarding his involvement in the controversy surrounding the show ‘India’s Got Latent.’ This move comes after Raina failed to attend a scheduled statement recording session on February 18.
The department issued a statement confirming that the summons will be sent today to ensure Raina’s presence for the recording of his statement. Raina had previously requested the Maharashtra Cyber Cell to allow him to provide his statement via videoconferencing, explaining that he is currently in the United States and will not be able to return to India until after March 17 due to prior commitments. However, the department rejected his request, insisting that the statement must be recorded in person.
The controversy began after a guest appearance by podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia on the show, during which Allahbadia made an inappropriate comment to a contestant. He asked, “Would you rather watch your parents… or join in once and stop it forever?” The remark sparked outrage, leading to a formal complaint against Allahbadia, Raina, comedian Apoorva Makhija, and the organizers of the show.
In response, Raina expressed regret on his Instagram Story, stating that his only aim was to entertain and that he had removed all ‘India’s Got Latent’ videos from his channel. “Everything that has been happening has been too much for me to handle. I have removed all India’s Got Latent videos from my channel. My only objective was to make people laugh and have a good time. I will fully cooperate with all agencies to ensure their inquiries are concluded fairly,” he wrote.
Following the backlash, multiple FIRs were filed against the involved parties across several states, including Maharashtra and Assam. The controversy escalated after the Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, confirmed that the Guwahati Police had filed an FIR against Raina and Allahbadia for promoting obscenity and inappropriate content.
On February 18, the Supreme Court condemned Allahbadia’s remarks, with Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh describing them as “dirty and perverted.” The Court emphasized that such behavior must be strongly condemned, particularly in the context of families and society. They also issued a stern warning to Allahbadia, reminding him not to take society for granted due to his popularity.
In light of the multiple FIRs, Allahbadia approached the Supreme Court, seeking to club the charges against him. The Court granted him interim protection from arrest, provided he cooperates with ongoing investigations. However, it imposed stringent conditions, including the surrender of his passport and a ban on leaving the country without permission.
The Supreme Court also expressed concern about the prevalence of inappropriate content on platforms like YouTube and urged the government to take action. Justice Kant emphasized the need for the government to address the misuse of such platforms, saying, “We would like you (government) to do something. Otherwise, we are not going to leave this vacuum and barren area the way it is being misused.”
The Maharashtra Women’s Commission has praised the Supreme Court’s intervention, particularly its decision to halt the controversial shows. Chairperson Rupali Chakankar welcomed the Court’s actions, calling the reprimand appropriate and necessary. The Commission had earlier requested an inquiry into the incident from the Mumbai Commissioner.