Stand-up comedian Samay Raina has been summoned once again by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell in connection with the ongoing controversy surrounding his YouTube show, India’s Got Latent. Raina, currently in the US, has requested more time to respond and is expected to return by the third week of March.
The controversy erupted after YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia made a controversial remark in a recent episode, sparking backlash and a formal complaint against Allahbadia, social media influencer Apoorva Makhija, Raina, and the show’s organizers. Following the outrage, Allahbadia issued a public apology, acknowledging that his comments were “inappropriate” and a “lapse in judgment.”
Cyber Cell Investigates, YouTube Takes Action
Officials confirmed that notices have been issued to around 40 individuals involved in filming 18 episodes of India’s Got Latent. The Maharashtra Cyber Cell has also requested YouTube to remove all episodes from its platform. While the platform took down the controversial episode within two days of its upload, authorities are working to ensure the complete removal of the series.
Raina Breaks Silence, Deletes Show
Breaking his silence, Raina took to Instagram on Wednesday to address the backlash, announcing that he has removed all videos of India’s Got Latent from his channel and assured full cooperation with the authorities.
“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 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,” Raina wrote.
Meanwhile, the Khar police have already collected statements from at least 10 individuals after receiving a formal complaint regarding the show’s filming, which took place in November 2024. Authorities have yet to make any arrests but stated that further action will follow after reviewing statements and scrutinizing the content.
