Ranveer Allahbadia and fellow YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani have both found themselves entangled in legal trouble following widespread outrage over certain comments made in their online show. The FIRs filed in different states accuse them of allegedly promoting misinformation and content deemed offensive. With multiple FIRs piling up, Allahbadia and Chanchlani jointly approached the apex court seeking to club the cases and have them transferred to a single jurisdiction, ideally Maharashtra, where both are based.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court gave partial relief by allowing Allahbadia to restart The Ranveer Show, a move welcomed by fans and content creators alike. However, the court expressed caution regarding his international travel and thus deferred the decision to release his passport, fearing it might interfere with the ongoing investigation.
What the April 28 Hearing Means
The upcoming hearing on April 28 will be crucial in determining whether Allahbadia can regain his passport and possibly travel abroad for work or personal reasons. His legal counsel is expected to argue that since the SC has allowed him to continue podcasting, a complete restriction on travel is disproportionate, especially when he has been cooperative with the authorities so far.
However, the prosecution is likely to stress the seriousness of the allegations and the importance of ensuring that Allahbadia remains within reach of law enforcement until the investigation concludes.
Ashish Chanchlani Seeks FIR Clubbing
Ashish Chanchlani, another prominent figure in the Indian YouTube ecosystem, is facing FIRs filed in two different states. Through his legal team, Chanchlani has submitted a plea seeking to club all FIRs and have the entire matter transferred to Maharashtra. The SC’s ruling in this matter may set a precedent for similar cases involving digital creators who face jurisdictional issues due to multiple complaints filed across the country.
Legal experts suggest that such requests for clubbing FIRs are not uncommon in cases involving national-level personalities, particularly when the cases involve similar allegations. If accepted, this move could simplify the legal process for both the creators and the investigating agencies.
Separate Incident: Former Cop Gets Life Term
In another major development in the Mumbai region, a Panvel additional sessions court has sentenced former police inspector Abhay Kurundkar to life imprisonment for the 2016 murder of assistant inspector Ashwini Bidre-Gore. Bidre-Gore went missing in April 2016 while posted in Navi Mumbai.
Kurundkar, who was in a relationship with Bidre-Gore despite being married, was found guilty of murder and was convicted earlier this month. Two of his associates have also been convicted for destroying evidence linked to the case. The conviction and sentencing bring some closure to a case that remained unsolved for nearly nine years and had deeply impacted the Maharashtra police community.
Content Creators Under Legal Lens
The case against Allahbadia and Chanchlani is symbolic of the growing legal scrutiny that digital influencers and podcasters are facing in India. As the popularity of independent online content grows, so does the regulatory attention. Issues of free speech, accountability, and the spread of misinformation continue to dominate public discourse.
Observers note that while digital platforms have democratized storytelling, they also bring challenges related to responsible content creation. The legal outcomes of cases like these could influence future content moderation norms, not just for YouTube and podcast creators, but across all social media platforms.
