Samay Raina Appears Before Maharashtra Cyber Cell in Controversy Over ‘India’s Got Latent’ | Watch

Stand-up comedian and YouTuber Samay Raina appeared before Maharashtra Cyber Cell officials on Friday, March 28, in connection with the ongoing investigation into the ‘India’s Got Latent’ controversy. He had been out of the country but returned a few days ago to comply with multiple summons from the authorities.

Silent Arrival at Cyber Cell Office

A video shared by ANI on X showed Samay stepping out of his car and quietly entering the cyber cell office. Although he briefly looked at the cameras, he did not speak to the media.

This was not his first appearance before the authorities. On March 24, Samay had already faced over six hours of questioning by cyber cell officials.

Other YouTubers Also Summoned

The Maharashtra Cyber Cell had earlier recorded the statements of YouTubers Ranveer Allahbadia, Apoorva Mukhija, and Ashish Chanchlani. They were all involved in the controversial episode of ‘India’s Got Latent,’ which sparked nationwide outrage.

Samay’s Absence and Summons

At the time when the controversy erupted, Samay was in Canada for his live shows. While the other accused individuals recorded their statements, Samay sought additional time until March 17 to appear before the authorities. However, his request to give a virtual statement was denied.

The Maharashtra Cyber Cell issued a second summons on March 19, which he did not comply with. A third summons followed, requiring him to appear on March 24.

What Is the ‘India’s Got Latent’ Controversy?

The controversy started when Ranveer Allahbadia, a special guest on Samay’s show, made an offensive remark. He asked a contestant, “Would you rather watch your parents have sex for the rest of your life or join in once and stop it forever?”

This inappropriate comment, along with the reactions from panellists Apoorva and Ashish, led to widespread backlash. Although Ranveer quickly apologised, multiple FIRs were lodged against him, Samay, and the other panelists.

India Tour Cancelled Amid Backlash

Amid growing pressure, Samay cancelled all his scheduled shows across India and assured fans that their ticket money would be refunded. His performances in cities like Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Surat were completely sold out but had to be called off following threats from Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

He was also scheduled to perform in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Kolkata between March and April, but these shows have been put on hold indefinitely.

Deleting Content and Responding to Controversy

In response to the controversy, Samay deleted all episodes of ‘India’s Got Latent’ from his YouTube channel.

Sharing his thoughts on the matter, he posted, “Everything that is happening has been too much for me to handle. I have removed all ‘India’s Got Latent’ videos from my channel. My only objective was to make people laugh and have a good time. I will fully cooperate with all agencies to ensure their inquiries are concluded fairly. Thank you.” Samay’s next steps remain uncertain as the investigation continues.