Ranveer Allahbadia’s controversy: YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia has received outrage for making indecent remarks, stirring debate on India’s obscenity laws. Mint delves into the legal definitions, punishments, and current court decisions involving obscenity.
Ranveer Allahbadia controversy: YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, also known as BeerBiceps, has received outrage for making ‘objectionable’ remarks on comic Samay Raina’s now-defunct show, India’s Got Latent. Raina removed all India’s Got Latent episodes from his YouTube site on Wednesday, a day after Mumbai Police raided Ranveer Allahbadia’s home.
The Assam police’s case against Allahbadia and Raina alleges ‘obscene activities’ under Section 296 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS).
The Guwahati Crime Branch has registered a Cyber PS case no 03/2025 under sections 79/95/294/296 of BNS 2023, Sec 67 of IT Act, 2000, Section 4/7 of Cinematograph Act 1952, and Section 4/6 of Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act,198. “An investigation is currently underway,” Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma stated in a post.
According to a story in The Indian Express, the Cyber Police in Maharashtra have used section 67 of the Information Technology Act (transfer of obscene content in electronic form), among other provisions.
This is not the first time a public figure’s performance has been described as ‘obscene’. Here’s what Indian law says about the offense:
Which laws address obscenity in online content?
Section 294 of the BNS governs the sale, distribution, and circulation of obscene items. The section seeks to protect public morality. This provision also criminalizes the “display of any content in electronic form.”
This section defines obscene content as anything which is lascivious or appeals to prurient interests and has the potential to corrupt or deprave individuals who interact with it.
Punishment: A first conviction may result in up to two years in prison and a fine of up to ₹5000. Subsequent convictions may result in a five-year jail sentence and a fine of up to ₹10,000.
Section 296 of the BNS also addresses indecent acts and songs in public places. It seeks to uphold public civility and prevent riots.
This provision makes it an offense to do obscene activities in public, sing, recite, or utter obscene songs, ballads, or lyrics in public, or do so to the annoyance of others.
Punishment options include up to three months in jail, a ₹1,000 fine, or both detention and fine.
What is Section 67 of the Information Technology Act?
Section 67 of the Information Technology Act of 2000 addresses the publication or transmission of obscene material online. The definition of obscene material in this IT Act clause is nearly identical to that in clause 294 of the BNS (formerly Section 292 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860). The punishment for a first-time offense is harsher, with up to three years in prison and a fine of up to ₹5 lakhs.
Recent examples:
In March 2024, the Supreme Court dismissed proceedings against the authors of the YouTube web series “College Romance” under Sections 292 of the IPC (now Section 294 of the BNS) and Section 67 of the IT Act.
