SC issues notice to Assam, Maharashtra on Ashish Chanchlani’s plea over ‘India’s Got Latent’ FIRs

The Supreme Court of India has issued notices to the states of Assam and Maharashtra on a plea filed by YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani, seeking to quash or transfer an FIR registered against him in Assam to Mumbai. The case stems from allegations of promoting obscenity in the controversial YouTube show ‘India’s Got Latent’.

Chanchlani moved the Supreme Court on Thursday, arguing that the Guwahati-based FIR was filed later than a similar one in Mumbai and should therefore be either quashed or transferred. The case against him and other individuals, including podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, was lodged under multiple sections of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), Information Technology Act, Cinematograph Act, and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act.

The Gauhati High Court had earlier granted interim bail to Chanchlani, directing him to appear before the investigating officer within 10 days. His legal counsel contended that he did not make any objectionable remarks on the show and that the allegations in the FIR were primarily against co-accused individuals.

The FIR was initially filed on February 10 at the Cyber Police Commissionerate, Guwahati Crime Branch, following a complaint from an individual. The complaint specifically targeted multiple personalities associated with the show, including comedians Samay Raina, Jaspreet Singh, and Apoorva Mukhija, apart from Allahbadia and Chanchlani.

Chanchlani’s petition argues that since a similar FIR (No. 05 of 2025) was already registered in Mumbai before the Guwahati case, the Assam FIR (No. 03 of 2025) should be transferred to avoid multiple legal proceedings in different states.