India’s Got Latent host Samay Raina and four other social media influencers had to appear before the Supreme Court last month after a petition was filed against them for mocking the disabled community.
The petition was filed by the CURE SMA (spinal muscular atrophy) Foundation of India. The plea said that the comedian made insensitive jokes mocking people with the condition.
SC says penalty for offending disabled persons will be imposed on social media influencers, including Samay Raina
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 25, 2025
After the influencers appeared before the court, it termed he influencers' conduct as damaging and demoralising. They called the jokes disturbing.
The foundation's petition had also called for the development of guidelines to protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities in relation to online broadcasting.
The four other influencers are Balraj Paramjeet Singh Ghai, Sonali Thakkar, alias Sonali Aditya Desai, and Nishant Jagdish Tanwar.
Earlier this year, the Samay was also booked for derogatory remarks made on his YouTube show, along with Ranveer Allahbadia. Samay had also appeared before the National Commission for Women and submitted a written apology over remarks deemed disrespectful to women in the show.
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On June 25, the Supreme Court directed the five people to display an apology on their channel for ridiculing disabled people. The court said that the freedom of speech of one person should not violate the rights of others. The comedians will also have to pay a penalty.
