SC grants relief to Ranveer Allahbadia from arrest, restrains him from airing any further YouTube shows and expressed displeasure over the remarks of YouTuber
The Supreme Court on 18th February, 2025 granted interim protection from arrest to influencer Ranveer Allahbadia, also known as BeerBiceps, in FIRs lodged against his comments on the YouTube show India’s Got Latent, on the condition that he fully cooperates with the investigation.
The bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh expressed displeasure over the remarks of YouTuber and podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia during his guest appearance on India’s Got Latent and condemned his behaviour.
The apex court also asked Allahbadia’s lawyer to clarify the parameters of obscenity and vulgarity. The Court has further issued directions in the following terms:
- No further FIR shall be registered against the petitioner based on the episode aired on India’s Got Latent.
- The petitioner may approach local police in Maharashtra and Assam for protection if facing threats.
- If any other FIR on the same allegations is filed in Jaipur, the petitioner’s arrest will remain stayed.
The Supreme Court emphasized the importance of responsible language, especially from public figures. On the contrary, the Legal representation argued that multiple FIRs against Allahbadia could be seen as an abuse of process.
The present case perfectly highlights the balance between free speech and the potential for harmful rhetoric in digital platforms.
Read order here.
Man wins consumer case after claiming PVR wasted his time with long ads before movie
A 30-year-old man in Bengaluru has won Rs 65,000 in compensation after suing PVR Cinemas, INOX, and BookMyShow, claiming they wasted 25 minutes of his time by running lengthy advertisements before a movie screening. The consumer court ruled in his favour, citing “unfair trade practice” and emphasising that “time is money”.
Abhishek MR, the complainant, stated that in 2023, he had booked three tickets to watch Sam Bahadur at 4.05 pm. However, instead of starting on time, the movie began at 4.30 pm after a prolonged session of advertisements and trailers, causing nearly 30 minutes of delay.
Abhishek argued that this delay ruined his schedule, making him miss important appointments. He accused the multiplexes of misleading customers by providing incorrect show times and forcing them to watch ads for commercial gain.
In a strong verdict, the consumer court directed PVR Cinemas and INOX to compensate Abhishek for wasting his time. Additionally, PVR and INOX were fined Rs 1 lakh, which must be deposited into the Consumer Welfare Fund within 30 days. However, the court dismissed the case against BookMyShow, stating that it is a ticket-booking platform and has no control over advertisement durations at theaters.
The consumer court made it clear that no business has the right to profit at the cost of a customer’s time. It also highlighted that busy individuals with tight schedules should not be forced to watch unnecessary advertisements.
Read order here.
Ministry of Broadcasting (MIB) issues advisory emphasizing the necessity for digital media platforms to comply with Indian laws and the Code of Ethics
On February 19, 2025, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) issued an advisory emphasizing the necessity for digital media platforms to comply with Indian laws and the Code of Ethics as outlined in the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. This advisory serves as a reminder to digital media entities of their obligations under the existing legal framework to ensure responsible and lawful content dissemination.
However, it’s important to note that this advisory appears to be at odds with recent judgments by the Bombay High Court. In September 2024, the court declared certain amendments to the IT Rules, particularly those introduced in 2023, as unconstitutional. These amendments had expanded the government’s authority to regulate digital content, which the court found to be disproportionate and infringing upon free speech rights. Therefore, the MIB’s advisory, which reinforces adherence to these contested provisions, may not align with the current legal landscape as interpreted by the judiciary.
Read the advisory here.
Examining current provisions, need for new legal framework to regulate harmful content: I&B Ministry
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry is examining the existing statutory provisions and the need for a new legal framework to regulate “harmful” content amid complaints of “obscenity and violence” being shown on digital platforms.
In its reply to a parliamentary panel, the ministry said there is a growing concern in the society that the constitutional right of “freedom of expression is being misused to showcase obscene and violent content on digital platforms”.
It told the Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology headed by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey that while certain provisions exist under the current laws, there is a growing demand for a stricter and effective legal framework to regulate such harmful content.
The same comes in the aftermath of the India’s got Latent controversy where the YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia’s controversial comments sparked widespread controversy within the entire nation.
While the Supreme Court granted him protection from arrest, it also made very critical observations over his vulgar comments. The ministry told the committee that it will submit a detailed note after due deliberations.
The committee had asked the ministry on February 13 regarding the amendments needed in the existing laws to clamp down on controversial content in the wake of the emergence of new technology and media platforms.
Unlike the conventional print and electronic content, which are covered under specific laws, new media services powered by internet such as OTT platforms or YouTube have no specific regulatory framework, triggering demands for amending the laws.
While there have been some concern that authorities may use new provisions to censor content for extraneous reasons, frequent outrage triggered by episodes like the one involving Allahbadia have given rise to the demand for strengthening the legal framework through amendments in the existing laws or enacting new ones.
Zomato under scrutiny for selling Honey Singh’s Millionaire India Tour tickets without buyer’s name: Report
Zomato’s ticketing platform will likely receive a show-cause notice from the Maharashtra Cyber Cell for selling tickets for singer Honey Singh’s concert without mentioning the name of the buyer.
The Maharashtra Cyber Cell has sought an explanation on why tickets were sold without the names of the buyers. The authorities will check if Zomato is violating any ticketing regulations or posing security risks.
Meanwhile, Zomato has denied all the allegations.
Earlier, the Maharashtra Cyber Cell directed BookMyShow and Zomato to print buyers’ names on tickets for high-profile events to curb black marketing.
ED issues order levying penalty of over ₹3.44 crore on BBC World Service India for alleged FEMA violations
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on February 21, 2025, issued an adjudication order levying a penalty of over ₹3.44 crore on BBC World Service (WS) India, along with a fine of ₹5,000 per day after October 15, 2021, till the date of compliance, for the alleged violation of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) provisions, according to agency sources.
The adjudication proceedings were initiated after a show-cause notice was issued on August 4, 2023, to BBC WS India, its three directors, and the finance head.
The agency noted that on September 18, 2019, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) had issued a press note stipulating a 26% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) cap for digital media under the government approval route.
However, the ED has alleged, BBC WS India — which is a 100% FDI company engaged in uploading/streaming news and current affairs through digital media — did not reduce its FDI to 26%, and kept it at 100% in “gross violation of regulations” issued by the Government of India.
The agency had launched an inquiry into the BBC India under the FEMA in April 2023 for suspected violations and asked some of its functionaries to submit certain documents for scrutiny.
Earlier in February 2023, the Income-Tax Department surveyed the Delhi and Mumbai offices of the BBC on suspicion of “deliberate non-compliance with the transfer pricing rules and vast diversion of profits”.
In December 2023, the BBC announced that it was restructuring its operations in India to comply with the country’s foreign investment rules.
Money gaming companies flout rules, fish for more time
Real money gaming companies are struggling to comply with new Tamil Nadu regulations prohibiting minors and imposing ‘blank hours.’ They face technical challenges in swiftly implementing these laws. Some firms seek more time or are considering legal action, while potential criminal liability looms for non-compliance.
TRAI Recommends Major Reforms for Broadcasting and DTH Services
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended a significant reduction in the authorisation fee for Direct-to-Home (DTH) operators, slashing it from 8% to 3% of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR), with plans for its complete removal after 2026-27. TRAI also lowered the bank guarantee for DTH services to ₹5 crore or 20% of the authorisation fee for two quarters, whichever is higher.
In its new proposals for broadcasting services under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, TRAI called for a unified service authorisation framework, replacing the current licensing model. It also urged voluntary infrastructure sharing among broadcasters and telecom operators, interoperability of set-top boxes, and the removal of the ₹100 crore net worth requirement for IPTV service providers.
For radio broadcasting, TRAI introduced technology-agnostic reforms, allowing radio operators to obtain service authorisation without auction-based spectrum allocation. It also proposed standardising authorisation fees for radio services at 4% of AGR, with a reduced 2% rate for specified regions during the first three years. A new 10-year renewal cycle for radio authorisations was also recommended.
Additionally, TRAI proposed the creation of a separate Programme and Advertisement Code for radio broadcasters, alongside new services for ground-based television broadcasting and low-power radio services.
ASCI Takes Action Against Illegal Betting Ads & flags 413 offshore online betting advertisements for violating norms
The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has reported 413 advertisements by foreign betting platforms to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting since January, with 12 more under review for potential violations of real-money game (RMG) guidelines. ASCI’s monitoring cell is actively tracking and reporting illegal gambling ads, which often involve offshore entities with no accountability in India.
In response, ASCI has signed an MoU with e-gaming associations like the All India Gaming Federation, the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports, and the E-Gaming Federation to combat illegal betting ads. The MoU aims to strengthen compliance and ensure responsible advertising practices in the RMG industry.
ASCI flagged 1,336 ads for violating its online gaming guidelines between April 2023 and March 2024, including 492 for real-money games. The guidelines mandate clear disclaimers about the financial risks and addictive nature of such games and prohibit depicting minors in gambling-related ads. ASCI has also called for industry collaboration to prevent exposure to illegal platforms and promote responsible gaming practices.
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has recently invited Indian gaming companies to discuss the risks of money laundering and terrorism financing in the sector. With India’s online gaming market growing rapidly, the collaboration aims to curb illegal betting activities, which currently receive over $100 billion annually.
Delhi High Court Grants Ex-Parte Injunction Against Rogue Gambling Sites in Baazi Group Trademark Case
In a trademark infringement case filed by Baazi Group, the Delhi High Court has granted an ex-parte interim injunction against several rogue gambling websites operating in India under infringing domain names and branding. The Court observed that these websites, despite having no physical presence in India, were illegally promoting online gambling and betting services through advanced SEO techniques to redirect user traffic.
The Court also acknowledged violations of Indian laws, including advisories by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting prohibiting the promotion of such platforms. Baazi Group’s loss was highlighted, prompting the Court to restrain the websites from using, modifying, or transferring the infringing domain names.
Additionally, the Court directed domain registrars like GoDaddy and Namecheap, which were facilitating the sale of these infringing domains, to suspend access and provide details of the domain owners to prevent further harm to the Plaintiff.
Read order here.
