The Supreme Court on Tuesday sharply criticised comedian Samay Raina, accusing him of failing to abide by assurances previously given to the court in the case concerning jokes about persons with disabilities.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice J.V. Mohana imposed a fine of Rs 3 lakh each on Samay Raina, Vipul Goyal, Balraj Ghai, Sonali Thakkar and Nishant Tanwar. The court directed all five to deposit the amount within two weeks, warning that stricter financial consequences could follow in case of non-compliance.

During the proceedings, amicus curiae Aparajita Singh informed the bench that Raina had continued performing comedy shows but had allegedly not reached out to the Cure SMA Foundation or individuals affected by Spinal Muscular Atrophy, despite earlier directions from the court. She questioned the comedian's public image, saying his conduct was inconsistent with the responsibilities expected of a youth icon.

The Chief Justice also expressed dissatisfaction with Raina's delayed response to the court, remarking that the explanation filed on his behalf was unacceptable.

The matter stems from petitions filed by content creators Ranveer Allahbadia and Ashish Chanchlani, along with the Cure SMA Foundation, over remarks made during the first season of India's Got Latent that allegedly mocked visually impaired people and individuals living with disabilities.

The court observed that the assurances recorded during earlier hearings had not been adequately followed. Apart from the monetary penalty, it directed the five comedians to issue public apologies, submit compliance affidavits and organise two special comedy performances every month, with the proceeds dedicated to the treatment of children diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

The bench also cautioned that failure to comply within the stipulated deadline could invite a much steeper penalty. The Chief Justice indicated that the fine could be increased tenfold if the court's directions were ignored.

The controversy dates back to two YouTube episodes of India's Got Latent in 2025, where jokes targeting people with disabilities, including SMA patients, a child affected by the condition, visually impaired individuals and cross-eyed persons, triggered widespread criticism.

During earlier hearings, the Supreme Court had also urged the government to consider stronger legal protection against disability-based insults. The Chief Justice suggested Parliament examine the possibility of legislation similar in spirit to the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act to penalise derogatory remarks aimed at persons with disabilities. The Solicitor General had agreed that humour should not come at the expense of an individual's dignity.

In October 2025, Samay Raina and fellow comedians Vipul Goyal, Sonali Thakkar, Nishant Tanwar and Balraj Ghai had jointly issued a public apology, expressing regret for the hurt caused and promising to be more sensitive in their future work while helping raise awareness about the challenges faced by the disability community.