'India's Got Latent' row: Ranveer Allahbadia, Apoorva Mukhija apologise to NCW

Allahbadia, Mukhija and show producers Saurabh Bothra and Tushar Poojari appeared before the National Commission for Women (NCW) here on Thursday. According to sources, the two YouTubers were quizzed for hours.

New Delhi: YouTubers Ranveer Allahbadia, popularly known as BeerBiceps, and Apoorva Mukhija have submitted written apologies to the National Commission for Women (NCW) over their offensive remarks made on 'India's Got Latent' programme, panel chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar said on Friday.

She said their comments on the online show were "simply not acceptable".

"Four people appeared before the commission -- Tushar Poojari, Saurabh Bothra, Mukhija and Allahbadia. The commission will not accept the use of inappropriate language. Such remarks are simply not acceptable," she told reporters. Bothra and Poojari were the show producers.

"Keeping the social impact in mind, they were issued notices. They came before the Commission and expressed deep regret. They said they should not have spoken in such a manner and have now submitted a written apology," she said.

She said Allahbadia told the panel that this is the first and last time such a mistake has happened. “From now on, I will think carefully and speak with respect about women," she said, quoting Allahbadia. Cases were registered against Allahbadia for his comments on parents and sex.

In another incident, she said the NCW has sought swift action from the Punjab Police against pastor Bajinder Singh, who is accused of sexual harassment.

She said they have directed the Punjab Police to submit a copy of each of the action-taken report and the FIR in the matter within three days.

"The case involving a pastor from Punjab that has come to light is a very serious and concerning matter. The way the woman was sexually assaulted is deeply concerning. However, we have not stopped at just acknowledging this, we have taken suo-motu cognisance of the incident and asked the Punjab Police what action they will take," she said.

Singh, the pastor of a church in a village in Punjab's Jalandhar district, is accused of sexually harassing a 22-year-old woman.