NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the release of passport to podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia from the Maharashtra Cyber Crime Bureau to enable him to travel abroad.
"We allow the plea of the petitioner (Ranveer Allahbadia)," said a two-judge bench of the top court, led by Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh.
The apex court passed the order on Monday, after hearing Allahabadia's petition seeking clubbing of FIRs registered against him across the country for controversial remarks made by him and others who were part of an episode of India's Got Latent.
During the course of the hearing, the top court was informed that the investigation in the FIRs registered against him in Assam and Maharashtra, for his controversial remarks in an episode of India's Got Latent, was completed.
Abhinav Chandrachud, lawyer appearing for Allahabadia, pleaded to the apex court to club the Assam and Maharashtra FIRs, saying that both of them pertain to the same show.
After hearing the submissions of Chandrachud, the court, however, said the Guwahati FIR contained certain specific allegations which are not present in the Mumbai FIR.
Following the apex court's earlier orders, Allahabadia has deposited his passport at Thane police station.
While extending the interim protection to Allahabadia, the bench noted in its order that as far as the petitioner (Ranveer Allahbadia) was concerned, he has been going as and when called and he was cooperating with the probe agency.
Earlier on February 18, the apex court, in a major relief to Allahabadia, had directed no coercive action against him for his alleged obscene remarks he allegedly made on a YouTube show 'India's Got Latent', even as the court reprimanded him for his indecent remarks. This order was subsequently extended twice till today.
The top court on March 3 allowed Allahbadia to resume his podcast "The Ranveer Show" subject to maintaining "morality and decency" and making it suitable for viewers of all ages.
The top court allowed his plea to resume his show, after considering the pleading of Allahabadia that the podcast was his primary source of income, supporting nearly 280 employees.
He was in the dock for his alleged obscene remarks -- on controversial comments on parents and sex on social media -- in his YouTube show 'India's Got Latent'.
