The Maharashtra Cyber Department has announced that a second summons will be issued to YouTuber Samay Raina in relation to controversial remarks made on the show ‘India’s Got Latent.’ This action follows Raina’s failure to attend a scheduled statement recording on February 18.

The department confirmed that the summons will be sent to Raina today to ensure his appearance for the statement recording.

In a previous request, Raina sought to record his statement via videoconference because he is currently in the United States and cannot return to India until March 17 due to prior obligations. However, this appeal was denied, with the department insisting on his in-person attendance.

The controversy erupted over a guest appearance by podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, who made an inappropriate comment to a contestant, asking, “Would you rather watch your parents… or join in once and stop it forever?”

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This incident sparked a significant backlash, leading to formal complaints against Allahbadia, Raina, comedian Apoorva Makhija, and the show’s organizers. In response, Raina expressed regret through an Instagram Story, stating that his intention was solely to entertain. “Everything that has been happening has been too much for me to handle. I have removed all India’s Got Latent videos from my channel. My only aim was to make people laugh and have a good time. I will fully cooperate with all agencies to ensure their inquiries are fair,” he wrote.

Following the incident, multiple FIRs were filed against those involved in several states, including Maharashtra and Assam. The situation escalated when Assam’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, confirmed that the Guwahati Police had registered an FIR against Raina and Allahbadia for promoting obscenity and inappropriate content.

The Supreme Court weighed in on February 18, denouncing Allahbadia’s comments. Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh referred to the remarks as “dirty and perverted,” emphasizing their shamefulness in relation to families and society. They cautioned Allahbadia not to underestimate societal values due to his celebrity status.

In light of the multiple FIRs, Allahbadia approached the Supreme Court to consolidate the charges against him. His request for an urgent hearing was acknowledged, and he received interim protection from arrest, contingent upon his cooperation with investigations. However, the Court imposed strict conditions, including the surrender of his passport and a prohibition against leaving the country without permission.

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Furthermore, the Supreme Court raised concerns about the prevalence of inappropriate content on platforms like YouTube, urging the government to take action. Justice Kant remarked, “We would like you (government) to do something. Otherwise, we are not going to leave this vacuum and barren area the way it is in misuse.”

The Maharashtra Women’s Commission has praised the Supreme Court’s involvement, specifically its order to halt the contentious shows. Chairperson Rupali Chakankar deemed the Court’s reprimand appropriate and necessary, noting that the Commission had previously requested an inquiry into the incident from the Mumbai Commissioner.