The Supreme Court on Tuesday imposed a significant Samay Raina Supreme Court cost of Rs 10 lakh on the comedian, holding that he had failed to honour commitments made before the bench. The order came during continued hearings linked to controversial remarks made on the online show India’s Got Latent, which had triggered widespread criticism over jokes targeting persons with disabilities.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, expressed sharp displeasure over Raina’s conduct during Tuesday’s proceedings. The judges observed that despite assurances placed on record earlier, his actions afterward did not reflect those commitments made to the court.
Senior Advocate Aparajita Singh, representing Cure SMA India Foundation, told the court that Raina had continued conducting shows but had not reached out to the foundation or to persons living with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, as directed in the earlier order. She questioned the sincerity behind his public image, submitting that his conduct did not match the responsibility expected of a public figure with such influence.
Taking note of these submissions, the bench remarked that it had no reason to believe otherwise regarding his conduct and directed him to deposit the amount within two weeks. The court further warned that a failure to comply within this period would invite coercive action against him.
The matter traces back to 2025, when two episodes of India’s Got Latent streamed on YouTube drew widespread criticism for mocking patients undergoing treatment for Spinal Muscular Atrophy, including an infant, along with remarks targeting blind and cross-eyed individuals. The backlash led to multiple petitions and summonses being issued before the apex court.
Following the controversy, the Supreme Court had earlier directed Raina and other content creators associated with the show to issue public apologies and to actively support awareness efforts for persons with disabilities. This included organising shows to help raise funds for the treatment of rare conditions such as SMA on a regular basis.
Samay Raina Supreme Court Cost Extends to Other Creators
The same bench also addressed related petitions filed by content creators Ranveer Allahbadia and Ashish Chanchlani. The court found that they, too, had not adequately followed its earlier directions and imposed a cost of Rs 3 lakh each on them, to be deposited within the same two-week period.
The bench made it clear that public profile or popularity offers no exemption from complying with judicial directions. It cautioned that continued non-compliance could invite stricter consequences, including significantly enhanced costs, at subsequent hearings scheduled in the coming weeks as the court monitors the situation closely.
Chief Justice Surya Kant has previously flagged the need for a dedicated law, similar to provisions under the SC/ST Act, to penalise derogatory remarks made against persons with disabilities and those suffering from rare genetic disorders. The court had also earlier asked Raina and fellow creators, including Vipul Goyal, Sonali Thakkar, Nishant Tanwar and Balraj Ghai, to issue a joint public apology for the remarks, which was subsequently published across their platforms.
The proceedings arose from petitions and an FIR linked to the first season of India’s Got Latent, filed after the show’s content sparked outrage among disability rights groups and the wider public. The Cure SMA India Foundation had approached the court seeking accountability from those involved in the broadcast.
Conclusion
The Supreme Court’s latest order underlines its resolve to ensure strict adherence to judicial directions, regardless of a litigant’s public standing or popularity. With the Samay Raina Supreme Court cost order now on record, the comedian has been given a clear two-week deadline to comply.
The matter remains pending before the apex court, which continues to closely monitor compliance by all parties involved in the case. Further hearings are expected to examine whether the comedians and content creators have taken adequate, verifiable steps to support persons with disabilities, exactly as originally directed by the bench earlier in the proceedings.
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