Gauhati High Court: A Single Judge Bench of Mridul Kumar Kailta, J., made the interim anticipatory bail granted to Youtuber Ashish Chanchlani vide order dated 18-022025 absolute. On 18-02-2025, the Court had granted him anticipatory bail for an FIR lodged against him by the Gauhati Police for promoted obscenity and engaged in sexually explicit and vulgar discussion on India’s got latent show.
The Court was informed that pursuant to the directions of the Court, Ashish appeared before the Investigating Officer, co-operated in the investigation and his statement under Section 180 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, was recorded.
Considering the fact that Ashish co-operated with the investigation, the Court made the interim anticipatory bail granted to him vide order dated 18-02-2025 absolute. The condition of not dissuading others who were aware of the facts of the case was maintained while making the bail absolute. The bail was made absolute while keeping the condition regarding dissuasion of other persons acquainted with the facts of the case, intact.
Accordingly, the bail application was disposed of.
[Ashish Anil Chanchlani v. State of Assam, 2025 SCC OnLine Gau 869, decided on 07-03-2025]
Advocates who appeared in this case :
For the petitioner: Sr. Adv D Das, H K Nath, N Patiri, K Kakoti, J Borah
For the respondent: Public Prosecutor, Assam
The Gauhati High Court’s decision to grant interim anticipatory bail to YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani in the ‘India’s Got Latent’ controversy underscores the judiciary’s commitment to upholding due process and ensuring that individuals are not held criminally liable without clear evidence of direct involvement. This development highlights the importance of safeguarding freedom of expression, especially in the digital realm, while also addressing concerns related to content that may be deemed offensive or controversial. The court’s emphasis on Chanchlani’s willingness to cooperate with the investigation further reinforces the principle that legal proceedings should be conducted fairly and transparently.