Where is Ranveer Allahbadia? YouTuber Unreachable After Ignoring 2nd Mumbai Police Summon

A team of police officers from Mumbai and Assam visited the residence of popular podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia on Friday as part of an investigation into controversial comments he made on a now-deleted YouTube show, "India's Got Latent". However, when they arrived at his Versova flat, they found it locked, according to a report by PTI, which cited a police official.

Allahbadia, known for his YouTube channel "BeerBiceps", has been at the center of a controversy over his comments about parents and sex during an episode of comedian Samay Raina's show. At least two First Information Reports (FIRs) have been filed against Allahbadia and Raina, one in Assam and another in Mumbai.

According to the police, Allahbadia was asked to appear at the Khar police station on Thursday for questioning, but he failed to show up. A second summons was issued, instructing him to appear on Friday. However, Allahbadia requested to have his statement recorded at his residence, which was declined by the police.

Allahbadia Seeks Supreme Court Intervention

In a latest development, Allahbadia has approached the Supreme Court, seeking to consolidate multiple FIRs filed against him in different states.

Multiple FIRs Filed Against Allahbadia and Others

On February 11, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the Guwahati Police had registered an FIR against several YouTubers and influencers, including Ashish Chanchlani, Jaspreet Singh, Apoorva Makhija, Ranveer Allahbadia, and Samay Raina, for allegedly promoting obscenity and engaging in explicit discussions on "India's Got Latent".

The FIR was filed under various sections of the law, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, the IT Act, 2000, the Cinematograph Act, 1952, and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986. The investigation is ongoing.

A team of Assam Police arrived in Mumbai on Wednesday and held discussions with senior officials at the Khar police station. In addition to the FIR in Assam, the creators of "India's Got Latent" also face legal action in Mumbai.

The Maharashtra Cyber Police have summoned at least 50 individuals for questioning, including those who participated in the show. So far, seven people, including Apoorva Makhija, also known as "The Rebel Kid", and television personality Raghu Ram, have recorded their statements.

Allahbadia Apologizes for Controversial Comments

On Monday, Allahbadia issued a public apology, admitting that he had made a mistake by making the joke that sparked the controversy.

Samay Raina, the host of "India's Got Latent", has deleted all episodes of the show from his YouTube channel, which had garnered millions of views. He has assured full cooperation with the investigative agencies and said that he only intended to make people laugh and have a good time.

The controversy surrounding "India's Got Latent" has sparked a wider debate about free speech and the limits of comedy in India. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen how the case will unfold and what implications it will have for the creators of the show and the broader comedy community.