(Image source from: Timesofindia.indiatimes.com)

YouTuber Samay Raina has been called in by Maharashtra's cyber cell for the second time this week amid controversy regarding a remark made by podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia on Raina's YouTube series "India's Got Talent." Mr. Raina, who is returning from the US on March 17, requested additional time to address the summons. Previously boasting over 16 million followers on social media before the incident, Mr. Allahbadia faced backlash after a video surfaced featuring his contentious remarks concerning parental intimacy, igniting significant discourse about free speech and societal decency. A widely circulated clip from the episode shows Mr. Allahbadia posing a provocative question to a contestant: "Would you prefer to witness your parents engaging in sexual activity daily for the rest of your life or participate once and end it forever?" Although he later released a video expressing regret and labeling his statement a "lapse in judgment," the damage had been done. Following the incident, Mr. Raina removed all episodes of "India's Got Talent" from his YouTube channel and assured full cooperation with the investigation, yet tensions remained high.

Authorities from the Mumbai Police have gathered testimonies from seven individuals, including social media personality Apoorva Makhija. Mr. Allahbadia is expected to meet with investigators in the next couple of days, as confirmed by officials to PTI. The Maharashtra Cyber Department has called upon over 40 individuals to participate in the inquiry, consisting of contestants and judges who appeared in previous show episodes. Additionally, the Guwahati Police have filed a case against Mr. Allahbadia and four other participants, with a dedicated team in Mumbai looking into the situation. The controversy even reached the floor of Parliament, where Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske initiated a discussion and advocated for legislation to oversee social media activity. Maharashtra Chief Minister Fadnavis, despite not having viewed the specific video, warned the public about the boundaries of free speech. He stated, "Everyone is entitled to freedom of speech, but that freedom is restricted when it infringes on the rights of others... Our society has established certain standards, and violating them is unacceptable. Appropriate measures should be taken against offenders." On Tuesday, the National Commission for Women (NCW) summoned Mr. Allahbadia, Mr. Raina, Ms. Makhija, Jaspreet Singh, Ashish Chanchlani, along with producers Tushar Poojari and Saurabh Bothra, to appear before them on February 17 in New Delhi.