PTI
New Delhi
The Supreme Court on Monday allowed podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia to resume his podcast ‘The Ranveer Show’ subject to maintaining “morality and decency” and making it suitable for viewers
of all ages.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh observed Allahbadia’s submission that the podcast was his only source of livelihood and about 280 persons he employed depended on the show.
“Subject to the petitioner furnishing an undertaking to the effect that his whole podcast shows will maintain desired standards of decency and morality so that viewers of any age group can watch, the petitioner is permitted to resume ‘The Ranveer Show’,” said the bench.
The court, therefore, modified its February 18 order barring Allahbadia and his associates from airing any show on YouTube or any other audio or visual platform.
The bench, during the hearing, took exception to those writing articles on freedom of speech and expressions post its February 18 order and observed it was adept in dealing with the matter.
“We know that some briefless people are writing some articles in the name of freedom of speech and expression. We know how to handle them also. In this country there is nothing like a fundamental right on a platter. The fundamental rights all flow by a duty and unless those people want to understand their duty, then we know how to deal with those kinds of elements,” Justice Surya Kant said.
The court said if somebody wanted to enjoy fundamental rights, the country gave a guarantee to enjoy but also guaranteed it with a duty.
“So that guarantee will involve a guarantee for performing that duty. So we know what kind of…anyway we are quite hopeful and we are quite sure that some repentance (is there) about what they have done,” the bench said.
Allahbadia, popularly known as BeerBiceps, faces multiple FIRs for his comment on parents and sex on comic Samay Raina’s YouTube show ‘India’s Got Latent’.
The bench, however, restrained Allahbadia from airing any programme of his podcast which had a direct or an indirect bearing on the merits of the sub-judice cases he was involved in.
His prayer for travel abroad would be considered once he joined the probe and his presence was not required in the cases registered against him, it added.
The bench also extended the interim protection from arrest granted to Allahbadia till further orders, while asking him to join the investigation in Guwahati.
