Supreme Court slams Samay Raina, imposes Rs 3 Lakh fine for ignoring court orders

The Supreme Court of India strongly criticised comedian and YouTuber Samay Raina, along with influencers Ranveer Allahbadia and Ashish Chanchlani, for not following its earlier directions in a case related to remarks about people with disabilities. The court said that people who are seen as youth icons should act responsibly and set a positive example for their audiences.

Court Says Earlier Orders Were Ignored

A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, was informed that Samay Raina had not invited people with disabilities to his shows despite giving an undertaking before the court. Earlier, the Supreme Court had directed Raina and other influencers to use their platforms to support people with disabilities, especially by raising awareness and funds for those suffering from rare diseases like Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).

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The court had also asked them to publicly display an unconditional apology in their podcasts and shows for making jokes about people with disabilities and rare genetic disorders.

Court Imposes ₹3 Lakh Fine

Expressing disappointment, the Supreme Court said Samay Raina had failed to honour his commitment and had "taken the Court for a ride." The judges also noted that a compliance affidavit was claimed to have been filed, but no such affidavit was available before the court.

The bench imposed a fine of ₹3 lakh on Raina and directed him to deposit the amount within two weeks. The court warned that stricter action could be taken if future directions are not followed.

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Strong Remarks During the Hearing

The judges made sharp observations during the hearing, saying that respect for others is important in public life and that no one should humiliate people for entertainment. The court also remarked that staying outside the country does not place anyone beyond its jurisdiction.

Senior advocate Aparajita Singh, appearing for Cure SMA India Foundation, told the court that Raina never contacted the organisation to involve people with disabilities in his shows. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also said that India's youth have better role models.

What Is the Case About?

The case was filed by Cure SMA India Foundation over jokes made by Samay Raina and other comedians, including Vipun Goyal, Balraj Paramjeet Singh Ghai, Sonali Thakkar, and Nishant Jagdish Tanwar. The petition claimed that the remarks mocked people with disabilities and rare genetic disorders.

Earlier hearings had directed the comedians to apologise publicly, organise awareness shows featuring specially abled individuals, and use their platforms to support meaningful causes. The Supreme Court has now made it clear that these directions must be followed seriously.

- PTC PUNJABI