• Source:JND
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India's Got Latent Row: YouTube podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, aka "BeerBiceps," on Saturday evening made an appearance on social media, apologizing for his remarks after going incommunicado for the last two days. Allahbadia stated that he is "scared" and that his family has been receiving death threats. He also mentioned that he is cooperating with the authorities in the ongoing probe.

Issuing an apology, Allahbadia said his remarks about parents were "insensitive and disrespectful." He added, "It is my moral responsibility to do better, and I am genuinely sorry."

The apology came after his remarks on Samay Raina's YouTube show, India's Got Latent, about "watching parents having sex" stirred a massive uproar across the country, with the issue even getting a mention in Parliament. Multiple FIRs have been filed against Ranveer Allahbadia, Samay Raina, and others, and police from Assam and Maharashtra have started questioning people involved with the show.

Allahbadia, who was found untraceable during the day, issued an apology post on X (formerly Twitter), saying that he is not running away and is cooperating with the agencies. He wrote, "I will follow due process and be available to all agencies. I'm watching death threats pour in from people saying that they want to kill me and hurt my family. People have invaded my mother's clinic, posing as patients. I'm feeling scared, and I don't know what to do. But I'm not running away. I have full faith in the police and the judicial system of India."

Earlier in the day, the Mumbai police were unable to trace Allhabadia as his phone was switched off. When police officials reached Allahbadia's Versova home on Friday, they found it locked and his phone was also switched off. "Teams of the Mumbai and Assam police went to Allahbadia's flat in Versova this morning but found it locked. Both the police teams then returned to Khar police station," an unidentified police official was quoted as saying by PTI.

This is the third time Mumbai police have called Ranveer Allahbadia for questioning amid the massive outrage, leading to complaints from several persons in at least three states, including Assam, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Allahbadia has also filed a plea in the Supreme Court seeking the clubbing of FIRs filed against him in different states. The top court said that it would take up the matter in two to three days. A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar told Abhinav Chandrachud, appearing for the influencer, that it does not allow oral mentioning of cases for urgent listing. "I have assigned the bench and it will come up (before a bench) in two to three days,” the CJI said.

India's Got Latent Row: Samay Raina Gets Time Till March 10

Meanwhile, the Mumbai police have given Samay Raina time till March 10 to return to India and join the investigation. According to a report by PTI quoting a Mumbai police official, Samay Raina's lawyer met investigating officers of the case on Saturday and sought more time, citing that Raina is in the US and has shows lined up.

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Accepting his lawyer's request, the Mumbai police gave him more time and asked him to appear before the officials and record his statement by March 10. The Mumbai police had asked Samay Raina to record his statement by February 17, after his lawyer sought time till March 17, the day when he is scheduled to return from his US tour.

Apoorva Mukhija, Ashish Chanchlani and Raghu Ram Among 8 Questioned

The Mumbai police have so far questioned eight persons in connection with the case including popular social media influencer Apoorva Mukhija, YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani, comedian Jaspreet Singh, actor Raghu Ram and Ranveer Allahbadia's manager. All these persons, except Allahbadia's manager, have participated in India's Got Latent as judges.

These persons have been questioned after a complaint filed by Nilotpal Mrinal Pandey, a functionary of Maharashtra BJP's Uttar Bhartiya Morcha. However, the city police have not registered any FIR in this connection so far. However, an FIR has been filed by the Maharashtra cyber cell, which issued notices on Tuesday to the social Allahabdia and others including guests and judges who had participated in the past episodes of India's Got Latent.

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According to ANI, Apoorva Mukhija and Ashish Chanchlani told the police that the show is not scripted and the judges and the participants are told to talk openly. The two influencers reportedly said that the makers of India's Got Latent also do not pay the judges. However, they have the freedom to post the content of the show on their social media handles. To participate in this show as a spectator, one has to buy tickets. The money that comes from the ticket sales is given to the winner of the show, ANI reported.

Meanwhile, Raghu Ram, who was questioned by the Police on Thursday reportedly told the cyber cell that Samay Raina should have edited the abusive language used in the show. A report by NDTV also stated that Raghu Ram confessed before the police officials that he regretted using abusive language in the show.