Ashish Chanchlani Requests Supreme Court to Quash FIR Filed in Guwahati Over Obscenity Allegations

Youtuber Ashish Chanchlani has approached the Supreme Court to either dismiss or relocate an FIR filed in Guwahati to Mumbai. This FIR is linked to allegations of promoting obscenity in an online show. Chanchlani is among those named in the case, where podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia is the main accused due to controversial remarks on the YouTube show "India's Got Latent."

The plea, prepared by advocate Shubham Kulshreshtha and submitted by advocate Manju Jaitley, requests the cancellation of the FIR numbered 03 of 2025. This FIR was lodged at the Cyber police station under the Police Commissionerate, Guwahati Crime Branch, Assam. Alternatively, Chanchlani seeks to transfer this FIR to Mumbai Police Station Nodal Cyber, as a similar FIR numbered 05 of 2025 was first registered there.

Supreme Court Hearing and Legal Proceedings

The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for this plea before a bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh on Friday. The Gauhati High Court recently granted interim bail to Chanchlani while considering his anticipatory bail request. The court instructed him to appear before the investigating officer within ten days.

Chanchlani's legal team argued that he did not make any statements during the show. They claimed that the allegations in the FIR were directed solely at co-accused individuals. The FIR was initiated by Guwahati Police following a complaint on February 10. It cites various sections of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhtia (BNS), Information Technology Act, Cinematograph Act, and Indecent Representation of Women Prohibition Act.

Controversial Comments and Interim Protection

On February 18, the Supreme Court provided interim protection from arrest to podcaster Allahbadia. His comments on a YouTube show were deemed vulgar, with accusations of having a "dirty mind" that brought shame to society.

The legal proceedings continue as Chanchlani seeks relief from the Supreme Court regarding the FIR's validity and jurisdiction. The outcome of these hearings will determine whether the case remains in Guwahati or moves to Mumbai for further investigation.