Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Supreme Court quashes FIRs against Samay Raina, four others
Samay Raina is a famous comedian in India who made jokes on a show called India's Got Latent.
Some people were upset because his jokes were mean to people with disabilities, who have bodies or minds that work differently.
Some jokes made fun of a very expensive treatment for a condition called Spinal Muscular Atrophy.
Many people filed police complaints, called FIRs, against Samay and four of his comedian friends.
The Supreme Court of India, the highest court in the country, told them to do nice things to make up for it, like raising money to help people with disabilities.
At first, the court fined them 300,000 rupees because they did not follow its instructions.
Later, Samay's lawyer said the events they held raised 900,000 rupees to help people with disabilities.
Because of their good work, the court dropped all the police cases against them.
The court is still thinking about how to stop people from making mean jokes about persons with disabilities online in the future.
The Supreme Court quashed all FIRs against comedian and YouTuber Samay Raina and four others over insensitive remarks about persons with disabilities made on India's Got Latent.
Relief was granted to Vipul Goyal, Balraj Paramjeet Singh Ghai, Sonali Thakkar (alias Sonali Aditya Desai) and Nishant Jagdish Tanwar.
The bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant noted the comedians' 'genuine efforts' in awareness programmes and fundraising for persons with disabilities; a Rs 3 lakh cost was earlier imposed for non-compliance.
The episode was recorded at Khar Habitat in Mumbai on November 14, 2024, and later aired online as part of the show.
The court will keep studying the larger issue of protecting persons with disabilities from insensitive content, while Ranveer Allahabadia's (Beer Biceps) plea remains pending.
- Who
- Stand-up comedian and YouTuber Samay Raina, with comedians Vipul Goyal, Balraj Paramjeet Singh Ghai, Sonali Thakkar (Sonali Aditya Desai) and Nishant Jagdish Tanwar; podcaster Ranveer Allahabadia (Beer Biceps) and YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani were also named in related cases. The bench was led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana.
- What
- The Supreme Court quashed all FIRs filed over insensitive remarks about persons with disabilities made on the comedy show India's Got Latent, while continuing to study the larger issue of protecting against such content online.
- When
- On Friday; the episode in question was recorded on November 14, 2024.
- Where
- New Delhi, where the Supreme Court heard the matter; the episode was recorded at Khar Habitat in Mumbai.
- Why
- The bench found the five comedians had made genuine efforts to spread awareness and raise funds for persons with disabilities, complying with its earlier directions.
Disability rights advocates
Comedians and free-expression supporters
Disability-related remarks on the show
Disability rights advocates
Comments about the cost of treating Spinal Muscular Atrophy and mocking a person with the condition were insensitive and undermined the right to life and dignity of persons with disabilities, triggering criminal complaints.
Comedians and free-expression supporters
The remarks were part of stand-up comedy on India's Got Latent; the performers made genuine efforts to spread awareness and raise funds for persons with disabilities, and the Supreme Court quashed all FIRs against them.
Compliance with court-ordered programmes
Disability rights advocates
Cure SMA India Foundation told the Supreme Court that Raina had neither approached the NGO nor reached out to any other person with a disability to participate in his programmes.
Comedians and free-expression supporters
Raina's lawyer said the shows generated ₹9 lakh for the benefit of persons with disabilities, that people with disabilities had been invited to attend, and assured the bench that Raina would contact the NGO.
Regulating insensitive online content
Disability rights advocates
The NGO's plea sought regulatory measures for online content that allegedly undermines the right to life and dignity of persons with disabilities.
Comedians and free-expression supporters
Raina and the other comedians were described as very bright youngsters working in a positive direction, and the court will study the larger question before issuing any directions.
- Accused granted relief
- Samay Raina, Vipul Goyal, Balraj Paramjeet Singh Ghai, Sonali Thakkar (Sonali Aditya Desai), Nishant Jagdish Tanwar
- Show
- India's Got Latent
- Episode recording
- November 14, 2024, at Khar Habitat, Mumbai; aired later online
- Court bench
- Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana
- Earlier cost imposed
- Rs 3 lakh
- Funds raised
- ₹9 lakh (per Raina's lawyer)
- NGO petitioner
- Cure SMA India Foundation
- Pending matter
- Ranveer Allahabadia's (Beer Biceps) plea before the Supreme Court
Sources
Supreme Court Quashes FIRs Against Samay Raina And Four Others In ‘India's Got Latent' Controversy
Samay Raina gets big relief as Supreme Court quashes all FIRs against him
SC quashes FIRs against Samay Raina, four others over remarks on Persons with Disabilities
FIRs against Samay Raina over YouTube show cancelled by Supreme Court
