The Supreme Court on February 17, 2025, reprimanded YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia for his controversial remarks on Samay Raina’s YouTube show, India’s Got Latent. The court granted Allahbadia interim protection from coercive action in response to multiple FIRs filed against him for his comments, which have sparked a nationwide uproar.
The top court heard a plea by Allahbadia challenging the FIRs and questioned the language used during the show. The Supreme Court raised concerns over the words employed by Allahbadia, stating that the society has its values. The bench posed pointed questions to Allahbadia’s counsel, Abhinav Chandrachud, the son of former Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, asking, “What are the values of society? What are these parameters, do you even know?”
Further, the court stressed that freedom of speech does not grant anyone the license to express views that go against societal norms, saying, “In the name of freedom of speech, no one has license to speak whatever they want against norms of society.” The bench also remarked that the words used by Allahbadia could deeply hurt the dignity of women, parents, and society as a whole, adding, “Words you have used will make daughters, sisters, parents, and even society feel ashamed.”
The Supreme Court’s strong remarks highlight the delicate balance between freedom of speech and responsibility in public discourse. The case has drawn significant attention as it underscores the need for sensitivity and respect for societal norms, especially on widely watched platforms like YouTube.
