India's Got Latent Row | SC Issues Notice On Ashish Chanchlani's Plea for Clubbing Of FIRs

The Supreme Court of India on Friday, February 21, 2025, issued notice in a plea filed by YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani, seeking to quash or transfer to Mumbai an FIR registered against him in Guwahati in connection with India’s Got Latent controversy.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh issued notice to the states of Assam and Maharashtra, seeking their response to Chanchlani's plea. The court also tagged his petition with a similar plea filed by YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia.

During the proceedings, Chanchlani’s counsel submitted that the petition sought the clubbing of multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) lodged in relation to the same show. He argued, "This is a case where multiple FIRs have been registered for one show."

In response, Justice Kant directed, "Issue notice and tag it along with the (Ranveer Allahbadia) matter."

The court also noted that the Gauhati High Court had granted anticipatory bail protection to Chanchlani in connection with the FIR registered by Guwahati Police. However, a bench led by Justice Mridul Kumar Kalita had directed him to appear before the investigating officer within 10 days.

In his plea before the top court, Chanchlani sought the quashing of FIR No. 03/2025, registered at the Cyber Police Station, Guwahati Crime Branch, Assam. He contended that the FIR was filed after another FIR on the same matter had already been registered in Mumbai.

Alternatively, he requested the transfer of the Guwahati FIR to Mumbai, where FIR No. 05/2025 was lodged first, in order to consolidate legal proceedings.

On February 10, 2025, the FIR was registered by the Guwahati Police based on a complaint of an individual against Youtubers and social Influencers, namely Ashish Chanchlani, Jaspreet Singh, Apoorva Makhija, Ranveer Allahbadia, Samay Raina and others for promoting obscenity and engaging in sexually explicit and vulgar discussion in a show titled ' India's Got Latent'

The Guwahati Crime Branch registered a case under Cyber PS Case No. 03/2025, invoking Sections 79, 95, 294, and 296 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, along with Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, Section 4/7 of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, and Section 4/6 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.

Recently, the Supreme Court of India granted interim protection from arrest to YouTuber and podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, popularly known as 'BeerBiceps' in connection with multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) filed against him for his controversial remarks on the YouTube show 'India's Got Latent'.

Case Title: W.P.(Crl.) No. 85/2025 Diary No. 9116 / 2025 ASHISH ANIL CHANCHLANI Vs STATE OF GUWAHATI