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The Supreme Court granted interim protection from arrest to podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia.
Multiple FIRs were filed against him for allegedly promoting obscenity and sexually explicit discussions on his YouTube show.
Allahbadia was also prohibited from posting content on social media and required to surrender his passport.
Allahbadia’s Plea for Relief
Allahbadia sought to consolidate the FIRs filed against him in multiple states and requested protection from arrest.
His petition aimed to avoid harassment from appearing in multiple courts for the same alleged offense.
The Supreme Court has previously criticized multiple FIRs for the same issue, recognizing them as tools for harassment.
Conditions for Interim Relief
Interim relief conditions are not prescribed by law but are based on judicial discretion.
Courts assess factors like flight risk, witness intimidation, and evidence tampering when granting relief.
Overly restrictive conditions, like sharing private data, have been deemed unconstitutional in previous rulings.
Gag Order and Free Speech Concerns
The court imposed a gag order, restricting Allahbadia from airing shows on social media until further notice.
Such a gag order is considered a “prior restraint” and is generally viewed as a violation of free speech.
The Supreme Court has previously rejected similar restrictions, citing that they could create a chilling effect on free speech and professional rights.
Key Legal Precedents
Parteek Bansal vs State of Rajasthan (2022):
The SC criticized multiple FIRs for the same offense, highlighting it as a tool for harassment and abuse of state power. This ruling led to proposals for centralized case registration.
Satender Kumar Antil vs CBI (2022):
The SC ruled that imposing impossible-to-comply conditions on bail defeats the purpose of release, focusing on ensuring fairness.
Frank Vitus vs Narcotics Control Bureau (2024):
The SC struck down the condition of sharing Google Maps location, emphasizing the violation of privacy rights under Article 21, as excessive conditions can breach personal freedoms.
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