An FIR has been lodged against comedian Yash Rathi by the police in Chattisgarh’s Durg district following a performance at IIT Bhilai, during which he allegedly used sexually suggestive slang. The show was held on 15 November as a part of the institute’s annual festival Mirage, and was attended by students, their parents and faculty.

A clip from the performance went viral on social media following which a case was registered against the comedian on Monday, 18 November, under section 296 (Obscene Acts) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita at the Jevra Sirsa Police Chowki. Durg Superintendent of Police Jitendra Shukla confirmed the development to Times of India (TOI). An investigation has been launched to review the matter, he told the newspaper.

After the video of Rathi’s performance made the rounds, the comedian caught the ire of the youth wings of a number of political parties, who lodged multiple complaints with the IIT management, administration and police.

Rathi’s set was cut short when the management intervened following the use of said profane language, said IIT Bhilai Director Rajiv Prakash. “Standup comedy acts were held during the institute’s annual fest in the past but such language was never used by performers,” he told TOI. “We were shocked when Rathi used such language.”

The institute has also put together a committee to investigate who had made the decision to invite Rathi to perform at the event. Further, the management has declared that no standup comedy shows will be organised within the institute.

Rathi previously had a run-in with the law in April 2023, when Dehradun police booked him on the charge of “promoting enmity between different groups” for allegedly making an objectionable remark about Lord Rama during his set.