Eight days ago, a clip of digital content creator Ranveer Allahbadia making objectionable comments on the show “India Got Latent” went viral, leading to multiple FIRs. However, the police are yet to record his statement. The police have issued two summons to Allahabadia, but he has not responded to them. Apparently, he has gone underground. The police said they went several times to his apartment in Bay View building, Seven Bungalows, Andheri (W), but found the place locked. The team returned empty handed, but after that there has been little effort to track him down. His mobile phone is switched off ever chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and others denounced him for his sexually-coloured remarks.
Following the controversy, the Maharashtra Cyber Cell registered an FIR against him and 29 others. Assam Police also filed a case against him and others involved. Meanwhile, Khar Police initiated a preliminary inquiry, and cases were registered in other parts of the country as well. Despite this, no authority has succeeded in recording his statement in the past eight days.
When FPJ asked about Allabadia’s statement, Dixit Gedam, Deputy Commissioner of Zone 9, confirmed that the police have not been able to record his statement. He added that the police would take action according to the law and declined to provide further details. A former police official said “if the police wants then they can ferret out anyone from any place. Am surprised they have not been able to track down the man even after so many days.”
Khar Police, along with Versova Police and Assam Police, last week visited Allahbadia’s residence in Bay View building near Seven Bungalows, Andheri West, multiple times, but found his flat closed. Assam Police affixed a notice on his door. According to police sources, his mobile phone remains switched off, and his lawyer has not contacted the authorities.
The National Women Commission has also failed to record his statement. On February 17, the NCW issued summons to several individuals, including Allahbadia. He informed the Commission that he is receiving “death threats” and requested a new hearing date after three weeks. The NCW accepted his request and rescheduled the hearing for March 6, 2025, after considering his reasons. However, he has not mentioned from who he was receiving the “death threats.” He has also not lodged a police complaint in this regard.
In the meantime, on February 14, Allahbadia approached the Supreme Court seeking protection from coercive action, but the Court declined an immediate hearing.
This raises questions about why no police authority has been able to record his statement or who might be preventing them from doing so. People are discussing that if the police wanted to, they could easily record his statement. The real question is whether they genuinely want to record his statement and take further action, who is preventing them from doing so?
Two days ago, Allahbadia posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “My team and I are cooperating with the police and all other authorities. I will follow due process and will be available to all agencies. However, I am receiving threats from people who say they want to kill me and harm my family. Some individuals have even entered my mother’s clinic. I am scared and don’t know what to do.”
His mother, Swati Allahbadia, is a renowned gynecologist, and his father, Gautam Allahbadia, is a leading name in the field of IVF, known for conducting India’s first trans-ethnic surrogate pregnancy. He has authored over 124 books and 150 scientific papers.
Ranveer Allahbadia initially started his YouTube channel focused on fitness and food but later expanded his platform to interview ministers, actors, athletes, spiritual leaders, and other prominent figures across a broad spectrum of topics.
Meanwhile, the state cyber cell , has rejected comedian Samay Raina’s request to record his statement in connection Allahabadia’s podcast virtually. Raina, who is in the US for a show, had requested the cyber cell to record his statement via video-conferencing, but it rejected his request.The comedian has been asked to appear before the agency on February 18.Earlier, the Mumbai police also had asked Raina to appear at the Khar police for an inquiry before February 17, and he informed them about his shows abroad.
The police had earlier rejected Allahbadia’s request to record his statement at his residence, and he was asked to appear before the police in person.Maharashtra Cyber has summoned at least 50 persons to record their statements in connection with the case. They include those who participated in the show.
The official said a team from the Assam police, which was in Mumbai to investigate in connection with the case registered with them over the show, left on Sunday after serving notices to accused persons at their residences.He said the Assam police have asked all the accused persons to appear before them in Guwahati in person.
Many of the accused persons were not available to record statements, following which the Assam Police team served notices to them under section 35 (3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), he said.If they failed to appear before the police in Guwahati, the team may travel to Mumbai again for further action in their case, he said. An FIR was registered in Jaipur also and it has been transferred to Khar police.
(With inputs from PTI).
