Supreme Court Allows Ranveer Allahbadia to Resume ‘The Ranveer Show,’ Weighs Content Regulations
New Delhi – The Supreme Court on Monday lifted restrictions on YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, popularly known as BeerBiceps, allowing him to resume his podcast, The Ranveer Show, provided its content adheres to standards of morality and decency.
A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and NK Singh, while granting relief to Allahbadia, emphasized that the podcast must be suitable for viewers of all age groups.
“As of now, petitioners were restrained from airing any shows. Subject to the petitioner furnishing an undertaking that his podcast shows will maintain the desired standards of morality and decency so that viewers of any age group can watch, the petitioner is permitted to resume The Ranveer Show,” the Court stated.
Allahbadia had earlier been barred from appearing in any show as part of the conditions of his interim protection from arrest. His counsel, Advocate Abhinav Chandrachud, argued that this restriction was not only affecting his livelihood but also impacting his 280 employees. Taking note of this, the Court relaxed the condition while maintaining a strict stance on content regulation.
Regulating Obscene Content: Court Opens Debate
During the hearing, the Court also indicated its intent to examine broader issues regarding permissible speech on public platforms. It sought suggestions from Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta on possible regulatory measures that would ensure content remains within the bounds of Article 19(4) of the Constitution, which allows reasonable restrictions on free speech.
“We don’t want any regulatory regime which is about censorship, but it also cannot be a free-for-all platform,” Justice Kant remarked.
The Court noted concerns raised by SG Mehta that some form of regulation is necessary to curb the broadcast of content violating societal norms.
“Something needs to be done. Some guidelines need to be laid. Our notions of morality are far different from other countries. In the US, burning the flag is a fundamental right under the First Amendment, but it is a criminal offense here,” SG Mehta argued.
Debate Over Humor, Vulgarity, and Creativity
The case arose from an episode of India’s Got Latent, featuring Allahbadia and other panelists, which led to multiple criminal complaints across India for allegedly obscene remarks. The Court had previously criticized his language, calling it “degrading and reflective of a perverted mind.”
During Monday’s hearing, the Bench underscored that humor does not have to rely on vulgarity.
“There is a person who is now 75 and does a humorous show. You should see how it is done. A full family can watch it. That is what talent is. Using filthy language is not talent. There is an element of creativity and talent,” Justice Kant observed.
SG Mehta concurred, adding, “Humor is one thing, vulgarity is one thing, and perversity is another level.”
With the Court set to deliberate on potential regulatory measures, it has invited inputs from the public, legal professionals, and other stakeholders before taking any legislative or judicial action.
The ruling marks a significant moment in the ongoing debate on freedom of expression versus content regulation in India’s digital media landscape.
