Maharashtra Cyber Cell Summons Rakhi Sawant In ‘India’s Got Latent’ Controversy

February 21, 2025: Maharashtra Cyber Cell has issued summons to actress Rakhi Sawant, YouTubers Ranveer Allahbadia, Ashish Chanchlani, and others involved in the controversial episode of India’s Got Latent, asking them to record their statements.

Rakhi Sawant is expected to appear before officials on February 27, while Ashish and Ranveer will record their statements on February 24. YouTuber Samay Raina, who failed to attend his scheduled session on February 18, has also been asked to appear before the authorities, with a second summons issued to him after his request for videoconferencing was denied.

The controversy began when podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia made inappropriate comments to a contestant, leading to widespread outrage. His remark, asking a contestant whether they would rather “watch your parents… or join in once and stop it forever,” sparked a formal complaint. This led to multiple FIRs being filed against Allahbadia, Raina, comedian Apoorva Makhija, and the show’s organizers across multiple states, including Maharashtra and Assam.

The Supreme Court condemned Allahbadia’s comments as “dirty and perverted” and issued a warning against such behaviour, emphasizing that his popularity should not exempt him from accountability. The Court also issued interim protection from arrest for Allahbadia, subject to him cooperating with investigations and adhering to conditions such as surrendering his passport.

The controversy has drawn attention to the rising concerns about inappropriate content on platforms like YouTube. Justice Surya Kant of the Supreme Court urged the government to act, warning against the misuse of such platforms. The Maharashtra Women’s Commission lauded the Court’s intervention and called for necessary measures to address the issue.