Maharashtra cyber cell, Mumbai cops summon Samay Raina
Several members of a parliamentary committee on Thursday raised the issue of social media influencer Ranveer Allahbadia’s crass comments, calling for strict action and strengthening measures to curb such incidents.
BJD MP Sasmit Patra said several members cutting across party lines raised the issue and expressed the need to take stringent measures to ensure that such incidents do not recur.
The committee, which is headed by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, is likely to write the Information and Broadcasting Ministry on the issue. BJP MPs Anil Baluni, V D Sharma, Lahar Singh Siroya and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi were among those who raised the issue, sources said.
The Maharashtra Cyber Department and Mumbai Police have asked comedian Samay Raina to appear before them in the next five days in connection with the controversial remarks made by Ranveer Allahbadia on a web show, officials said on Thursday.
Raina is in the US and has sought more time to appear before the probing authorities, they said. The cyber cell and the Mumbai police are conducting separate investigations in connection with social media influencer Allahbadia’s remarks on Raina’s YouTube show India’s Got Latent.
While the Mumbai police have asked Raina to record his statement before February 17, the cyber cell has summoned him on February 18, an official said.
An Assam Police team, which is in Mumbai in connection with the investigation in a case registered by them against Allahbadia and some others, on Thursday met the Maharashtra cyber cell officials.
Earlier, the team visited Khar police station here on Wednesday and also met senior police personnel, the official said. The Guwahati Police on Monday registered a case against Allahbadia and four others.
The Mumbai Police have so far recorded the statements of seven persons, including social media influencer Apoorva Makhija, in connection with Allahbadia’s comments on the reality show, the official said.
The Maharashtra Cyber Department has summoned more than 40 persons, including Allahbadia and Raina, asking them to join the probe into a case registered over Allahbadia’s controversial remarks on the YouTube reality show.
AR Rahman takes a dig at Ranveer-Samay comedy
Composer AR Rahman subtly addressed the controversy surrounding influencer Ranveer Allahbadia, saying the past week has been all about “what happens when the mouth opens” when he indirectly shared his thoughts after he was asked to describe his music using emojis at the audio launch of Vicky Kaushal-starrer Chhaava.
On Wednesday night, Rahman, took the stage with the actor. Kaushal asked the music director to describe his music using “just three emojis”. “You want me (to) keep my mouth closed,” Rahman said after some contemplation, referring to the emoji.
“I think in the past week we have seen what all happens when mouth opens,” he added, eliciting a roaring laughter from both Kaushal and the audience.
To which Kaushal, who plays Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in the period drama, replied: “Talk about roasting.” Rahman is the latest celebrity to have joined the growing discourse around Allahbadia’s comment, which many have deemed “vulgar” and “irresponsible” on YouTube show India’s Got Latent”.
On Wednesday night, Raina said he has removed all episodes of India’s Got Latent from his YouTube channel in the wake of the controversy. In his first response since the fracas ensued earlier this week. Raina said he will fully cooperate with all the investigating agencies in their probe. (PTI)