The Centre has taken a firm stance in response to the controversy surrounding comedian Samay Raina and podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia over the objectionable joke made on the now-removed YouTube show India’s Got Latent. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) has issued an advisory after the Supreme Court stressed on the need to regulate obscene content on the internet. It has directed OTT platforms and social media channels to conform to the laws of India and to the Code of Ethics as incorporated under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media, Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
Supreme Court Raises Need for Regulation
Yesterday, the Supreme Court expressed concern over the increasing misuse of digital platform. The two judge bench noted, “YouTubers are misusing the lack of regulation.” The remarks were made during the hearing of Ranveer Allahbadia’s plea to club multiple FIR filed against him for his controversial remarks made on Samay Raina’s YouTube show, India’s Got Latent. The court also stayed Allahbadia’s arrest but criticized his statement, calling it “perverted” and questioning its obscenity.
Justice Surya Kant remarked, “If this is not obscenity, then what is? There is something very dirty in his mind, which has been vomited by him in the program. He is insulting parents also. Why should the courts favor him?”
Furthermore, the apex court ordered Allahbadia to cooperate with the investigation and barred him from participating in similar shows. He has also been asked to submit his passport to the police and cannot leave the country without court approval.
Ministry Issues Advisory for OTT Platforms and Social Media
Following the Supreme Court’s intervention, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting directed online curated content publishers and OTT self-regulatory bodies to ensure strict adherence to Indian laws. The ministry stated that it had received multiple complaints from MPs, statutory organizations, and the general public regarding “obscene, pornographic, and vulgar content” on certain online platforms.
The advisory highlighted that OTT platforms must not transmit any content prohibited by law and should undertake age-based classification. It also suggested implementing access control mechanisms for adult-rated content to prevent exposure to minors. The self-regulatory bodies of OTT platforms have been tasked with ensuring compliance with the Code of Ethics.
Additionally, the ministry cited legal provisions such as the Indecent Representation of Women Act, 1986, Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), 2023, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000, which penalize the publication of obscene and pornographic content.
The India’s Got Latent row
The controversy erupted after Ranveer Allahbadia, one of the judges on ‘India’s Got Latent,’ asked a contestant, “Would you rather watch your parents have sex for the rest of your life or join in once to make it stop forever?“ Samay Raina and Apoorva Mukhija, who were also part of the show, laughed at the comment, and the episode contained frequent use of abusive language.
After facing backlash from the public, Allahbadia apologized, stating that the remarks were “not just inappropriate; they weren’t even funny.” The show was subsequently removed from YouTube, but FIRs were filed against Allahbadia in Assam, Mumbai, and Jaipur. Law enforcement agencies in Mumbai and Guwahati reported that he had been “continuously out of contact.”
Government’s Firm Stand on Digital Content Regulation
The Center’s intervention marks a significant step in tightening content regulation on digital platforms. With increasing concerns over vulgar and obscene content spreading online, the government is pushing for greater accountability among content creators and social media platforms. The controversy surrounding ‘India’s Got Latent’ has reignited the debate on the need for stricter digital content regulation, and the Supreme Court’s observations have reinforced the urgency for action.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation, ensuring that online platforms adhere to ethical content standards and that offenders face appropriate legal consequences.
