India's Got Latent Row | Gauhati HC Makes Absolute Interim Anticipatory Bail Granted To YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani
The Gauhati High Court on Friday granted anticipatory bail to YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani in connection with the FIR lodged against him by the Guwahati Police over the alleged obscene and controversial comments made in an episode of 'India's Got Latent'.A bench of Justice Mridul Kumar Kalita allowed his plea, making his relief absolute. Earlier, on February 18, he was granted interim...
The Gauhati High Court on Friday granted anticipatory bail to YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani in connection with the FIR lodged against him by the Guwahati Police over the alleged obscene and controversial comments made in an episode of 'India's Got Latent'.
A bench of Justice Mridul Kumar Kalita allowed his plea, making his relief absolute. Earlier, on February 18, he was granted interim Anticipatory Bail on the condition of appearing before the Investigating Officer within 10 days.
It may be noted that Chanchlani has already moved the Supreme Court seeking quashing/clubbing of the multiple FIRs. On February 21, the Supreme Court issued notice on his plea.
The readers may noted that the FIR registered by Assam Police on February 12 has invoked Sections – 79 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 95 (Hiring, employing or engaging a child to commit an offence), 294 (Sale, etc., of obscene books, etc.) & 296 (Obscene acts and songs) BNS read with Section 67 of IT Act, 2000 (punishment for publishing or transmitting obscene material electronically), read with Section 4/7 of Cinematograph Act 1952 read with Section 4/6 of Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.
The FIR, lodged on a complaint by one Alok Boruah, alleges that Chanchlani, Jaspreet Singh, Apoorva Mukhija, Ranveer Allahbadia, Samay Raina and others promoted obscenity and engaged in sexually explicit and vulgar discussion in the show.
Before the High Court, Diganta Das, Senior Counsel, appearing for Chanchlani, along with Advocates Joyraj Borah, Hiranya Kumar Nath, Apoorv Srivastava and Avinash Lalwani, argued that Chanchlani is innocent as he did not make any such comment as alleged in the FIR.
It is Chanchalani's case that the remarks for which the FIR in question has been lodged were made by one of the guest panellists (Ranveer Allahbadia) and that Chanchlani had no role, authority or involvement in editing or post-production of the episode.
It is also the submission of Chanchlani's Counsels that he did not endorse, support, or contribute to any such remark made by one of the panellists in any manner.
In related news, the Supreme Court on Monday (March 3) lifted the restriction imposed on YouTuber & Podcaster Ranveer Allahabadia, a co-accused in the case, on airing shows.
The Court allowed him to resume his show "The Ranveer Show" subject to furnishing an undertaking that his own shows will maintain the standards of decency and morality, so that viewers of any age group can watch.