The controversy surrounding India’s Got Latent continues to escalate. Several individuals, including Ranveer Allahbadia, Samay Raina, Apurva Mukhija, Ashish Chanchlani, and Raghu Ram, have been accused of violating societal norms. The Maharashtra Cyber Police recently questioned Raghu Ram regarding the show. On February 13, he appeared at the police station to record his statement.
After the interrogation, Raghu Ram took to Instagram to share his stance. He expressed no regret about being part of the show, stating, “I do not regret being part of IGL.” He acknowledged that some jokes in the show may have been inappropriate and admitted they should not have been included, as they have hurt many people. He clarified that audience sensibilities vary, especially between a live paying audience and a larger online viewership. Though he personally might have excluded certain jokes, he emphasized that the final decision rested with the show’s creators. He added that he had no authority to dictate what should be kept or censored, trusting that the makers understood the weight of their choices.
While defending creative freedom, Raghu Ram maintained, “Freedom of speech is meaningless without the freedom to offend. Offence is often taken even when none is intended.” Despite his defense of artistic expression, he acknowledged the impact of the content, stating that he was sorry if he had caused genuine hurt to anyone. He also emphasized that comedians push boundaries but never intend to harm people with their content.
The former Roadies judge criticized how the media reported the controversy. He alleged that his statements were distorted to appear different from what he actually meant. Frustrated with the coverage, he decided to present his own version of events publicly, writing, “The news seems to have its own way of reporting the ongoing IGL investigation. Statements I have made are being spun to make it sound different. Since their version is out, I’d like to put out mine as well.”
The controversy initially erupted when Ranveer Allahbadia posed inappropriate questions to a contestant. The show had already been a topic of discussion, but his comments intensified public outrage. As criticism mounted, multiple FIRs were lodged against those linked to the show. Social media users voiced strong disapproval, fueling the debate further. In response to the backlash, Samay Raina decided to take down all episodes of India’s Got Latent from YouTube.
Legal proceedings related to the matter are still ongoing. The case has sparked discussions on the limits of free speech in entertainment. Whether the controversy will die down soon or escalate further remains uncertain.