Cinema VinesOn Wednesday, the Maharashtra Cyber Cell launched a new cyber‑awareness short film titled Digital Arrest and unveiled the 1930 Maharashtra Cyber Anthem at a ceremony in Mumbai. The event was graced by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and a roster of well‑known actors, including Ashish Vidyarthi, Pankaj Tripathi and comedian Samay Raina.
Samay Raina, who had helped create both the short film and the anthem, was formally honored by the Chief Minister. During the ceremony the comedian took a moment to thank Fadnavis and humorously remarked that he already has the cyber cell’s number saved on his phone because he frequently receives calls from them. He added, “My association with Maha Cyber has been going on for a very long time. 1930 is really a great number. I have actually saved it because I often get calls from there.”
Raina also noted the active role of the cyber cell, saying, “The Maha Cyber Cell is very active. I can tell you this for sure—whether you are there or whether you are in India, they will catch you.” He further explained that it was unprecedented for a cyber‑cell officer to visit a comedian’s home and bring him to the event, describing the gesture as “brilliant.”
Earlier this year, Samay found himself under investigation by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell after his YouTube series India’s Got Latent faced accusations of obscenity and sexually explicit content. The controversy was sparked when guest podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia made a remark about parents and sex to a contestant. Multiple FIRs were filed against Raina, Allahbadia and other creators linked to the show, leading to the removal of all episodes from YouTube. When summoned for questioning, Raina was touring the United States and requested a video‑conference statement, but the cyber cell insisted on a physical appearance and issued several summons to enforce compliance. He eventually appeared in Mumbai, admitted his mistakes and was later felicitated at the ceremony.
Following the event, Raina shared a video of his felicitation on Instagram, sparking comments from fans who called it a “full circle moment.” One fan wrote, “This is how you turn the tables,” while another noted, “What a full circle moment,” and a third added, “Downfall maybe anyway but comeback should be like this.” The comedian has since launched Season 2 of India’s Got Latent, with new episodes now available on both YouTube and Netflix.
The ceremony also highlighted contributions from other celebrities such as Sharad Kelkar and Sonal, underscoring the collaborative effort to promote cyber‑awareness across the state.
