The Supreme Court on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, imposed a cost of ₹3 lakh each on comedian Samay Raina and four other comedians for failing to comply with undertakings given to the Court in proceedings arising out of the India’s Got Latent controversy over insensitive jokes targeting persons with disabilities.
The Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana also imposed the same cost on comedians Vipul Goyal, Balraj Paramjeet Singh Ghai, Sonali Thakkar, and Nishant Jagadish Tanwar.
The Court had earlier accepted their undertakings that they would make amends for the insensitive jokes by conducting special shows highlighting the achievements of persons with disabilities and generating funds for the treatment of people suffering from rare diseases.
Expressing strong displeasure over Raina’s conduct, the Bench observed, “We have no reason to doubt that he [Samay Raina] has taken the Court for a ride. He is in brazen violation of statements/undertakings given before this Court.”
The Court further noted that Raina had attempted to justify the delay by stating that a compliance affidavit had been filed, whereas no such affidavit was on record.
“The misconduct is sought to be compounded by stating that compliance affidavit was filed yesterday, however, no affidavit has been filed.”
The Bench directed Raina to deposit ₹3 lakh as costs within two weeks and granted him 15 days to file a compliance affidavit. The Court warned that coercive action would be initiated if he failed to comply. It also indicated that the costs would be enhanced to ₹30 lakh in the event of continued non-compliance.
During the hearing, Senior Advocate Aparajita Singh, appearing for the Cure SMA Foundation, submitted that despite the Court’s earlier directions, Raina had neither contacted the Foundation nor engaged with persons suffering from Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).
She contended that while Raina had resumed conducting shows and featured persons with disabilities, he had failed to involve the Cure SMA Foundation as contemplated by the Court’s earlier directions. Singh further submitted that the Foundation did not want any financial contribution from Raina or the other comedians.
“I don’t know what kind of an icon he is for the youth…I shudder to think if he is regarded as an icon by the youth.”
Responding to the remark, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said, “Our youth has better icons…”
Chief Justice Surya Kant added, “They are self-proclaimed icons.”
The Solicitor General also referred to Raina’s recently launched India’s Got Latent Season 2, stating that the comedian began the show by hanging “nimbu-mirchi”.
“Recently, he started a new show. He said now at the beginning, I am doing something which I didn’t do in last series. He hangs nimbu and mirchi. He did not name anyone, but it was quite visible. I did not want to go into it but if he (Samay Raina) has not contacted SMA Foundation/persons suffering from SMA…”
Mehta also objected to the use of the term “disabled persons” in the comedians’ affidavits, submitting that the appropriate expression was “specially abled persons.”
During the hearing, the Bench questioned whether the comedians’ actions genuinely reflected compliance with its earlier directions.
Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that merely inviting a few persons with disabilities after the controversy created the impression that Raina was attempting to “buy them out.”
“If you used their disability to showcase your fundamental right to have commercial speech,”
Chief Justice Surya Kant immediately responded, “What about their fundamental right to dignity?”
Justice Bagchi further remarked that while the comedians spoke of humour and “the right to happiness,” their approach appeared focused only on “material things.”
Counsel appearing for Raina submitted that persons with disabilities had attended his shows and that photographs had been produced before the Court. However, he acknowledged that if the Cure SMA Foundation had not been contacted, it was “unfortunate” and assured the Bench that the omission would be rectified.
Initially, the Court considered imposing a cost of ₹10 lakh, which was later reduced to ₹5 lakh before finally fixing a uniform cost of ₹3 lakh for all the comedians.
Making strong oral observations on public conduct, Chief Justice Surya Kant said, “In public life, the more you respect others, the more respect you earn. You don’t humiliate people.”
When counsel for the comedians submitted that the failure to contact the Cure SMA Foundation was not due to ego and assured the Court that the comedians would comply with its directions, the Chief Justice responded, “Today’s order has been invited by respondents. We have been granting liberty as we thought that you are youngsters belonging to respectable families.”
Referring specifically to Raina’s conduct, the Chief Justice added, “They think sitting outside the country they are beyond jurisdiction. Let them suffer now. If this is not arrogance, then we have to change Oxford dictionary also.”
The proceedings arose out of the India’s Got Latent controversy, where jokes made during the show targeted blind persons and an infant suffering from Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). At an earlier hearing, the Supreme Court had directed Raina, Ranveer Allahbadia, Sonali Thakkar and others associated with the show to undertake disability-awareness initiatives and work with the Cure SMA Foundation as part of their undertakings before the Court.
The Court has now granted Raina 15 days to file a compliance affidavit, failing which further action, including enhancement of the imposed costs, may follow.
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