The Supreme Court delivered a scathing rebuke to podcaster Ranveer Gautam Allahbadia on Tuesday over controversial remarks he made on the online show India’s Got Latent.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh strongly condemned his comments, asserting that such behavior cannot be tolerated. However, the court granted him protection from arrest in multiple FIRs filed against him across different states.
“There has to be a limit to irresponsibility,” the bench remarked. “Some people think that because they are popular, they can say anything without consequence. These words are deeply offensive, not just to individuals but to society as a whole.”
The court went further, criticizing the nature of Allahbadia’s statements. “The words used would put anyone to shame. Parents, daughters, sisters, younger brothers—everyone would feel humiliated. What was said reflects a perverted mindset, executed in a completely disgraceful manner,” the bench stated.
When Allahbadia’s counsel, Dr. Abhinav Chandrachud, argued that while he personally found the remarks distasteful, their legality as a criminal offense was another matter, the court pressed him on the definition of obscenity. Chandrachud contended that mere profanity did not constitute obscenity unless it provoked “lustful or sexual thoughts” in a reasonable person.
The justices were unconvinced. “It’s not just about arousing lustful thoughts,” they countered. “Society has certain moral standards, and individuals, especially public figures, are expected to adhere to them. What defines vulgarity in a society that has collectively evolved its own values?”
The court also took issue with Allahbadia’s alleged inspiration from international media. “We are aware that he copied this from an Australian program,” Justice Kant noted. “Other societies provide clear warnings about content that may not be suitable for children, the elderly, or even those with a certain moral compass. They take precautions—why don’t we?”
While the court’s remarks were severe, it ultimately refrained from ordering Allahbadia’s arrest, leaving open the question of whether his statements legally qualify as obscene.