Fallout of Ranveer Allahabadia Episode: MIB Issues New Advisory for OTT Platforms

Moneylife Digital Team 20 February 2025

Investor Interest

In the wake of the controversy surrounding YouTuber Ranveer Arora, also known as Ranveer Allahbadia or BeerBiceps's recent episode, the Union ministry of information & broadcasting (MIB) has issued a fresh advisory to online curated content publishers (OTT platforms) and their self-regulatory bodies, stressing strict adherence to Indian laws and ethical guidelines.

The advisory follows concerns raised by members of Parliament, statutory organisations, and public grievances over the alleged spread of obscene, vulgar and pornographic content on OTT platforms and social media. The ministry has reminded content-providers of their obligations under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, which lay down a code of ethics and a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism for content violations.

Key Directives in the Advisory

Compliance with IT Rules, 2021 – OTT platforms must ensure their content does not violate legal prohibitions, follow age-based classification, and implement access controls for adult-rated content.

Enforcement of Self-Regulation – Self-regulatory bodies overseeing OTT platforms must ensure compliance with the Code of Ethics and take proactive measures against violations.

Legal Implications – Platforms have been reminded of laws such as the Indecent Representation of Women Act, 1986, Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), 2023, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000, under which the publication of obscene or pornographic content is a punishable offence.

The ministry has urged OTT platforms to strictly follow age-based classification guidelines and exercise due caution in content creation and distribution. This move signals a tightening regulatory environment for digital content providers, reinforcing the government's stance on responsible and ethical media dissemination.

With increasing scrutiny on OTT platforms, this advisory serves as a warning to content creators and distributors to align their content policies with legal and ethical standards, ensuring compliance with India's digital media regulations.

Earlier this month, several complaints seeking legal actions were filed against popular YouTubers Samay Raina, Ranveer Allahabadia, Ashish Chanchlani, and Apoorva Mukhija over allegedly obscene and offensive remarks about parents in the comedy show 'India's Got Latent'. Ranveer Allahabadia approached the apex court seeking protection from arrest and criminal proceedings from across the states.

On Tuesday (18 February 2025) the Supreme Court berated the YouTuber and podcaster for his comments at the online show.

The bench of justice Surya Kant and justice N Kotiswar Singh said such behaviour has to be condemned, even as it ultimately protected him from arrest in FIRs registered in different parts of the country.

"There has to be a height of lack of responsibility. This kind of condemnable behaviour… that somebody thinks himself that 'I can, because now I have become so and so popular and therefore I can speak any kind of words and that I can take the entire society to be granted'," the Court said.

Continuing, the bench said, "You tell us anyone on the earth would like this kind of words to be told. You are insulting people and parents also. We don't want to say there is something very dirty in his mind that has been vomited by way of this program."

The Court further observed that the words used by Allahbadia would put anyone to shame.

"The words which you have chosen, parents will feel ashamed. Daughters and sisters will feel ashamed. Your younger brothers will feel ashamed. The entire society feels ashamed. The kind of words… the perverted mind and the perversity you and your henchman have executed." (Read: Very Dirty, Depraved Mind: Supreme Court on Ranveer Allahbadia Remarks in India's Got Latent)

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