In a major relief for YouTuber and comedian Samay Raina, the Supreme Court of India has quashed all criminal cases registered against him and four fellow comedians in connection with controversial remarks made on the show “India’s Got Latent.” The bench, while dropping the charges, commended the group for their subsequent efforts toward disability awareness and fundraising.
Supreme Court Grants Relief to Comedians
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice N.V. Anjaria heard the matter and ordered the cancellation of all FIRs filed against the accused. Along with Samay Raina, the court extended relief to Vipul Goyal, Balraj Parmajeet Singh Ghai, Sonali Thakkar and Nishant Jagdish Tanwar. The bench observed that the group members were talented young individuals and noted that channelling their energy in a positive direction would yield beneficial outcomes, particularly citing their contribution toward raising awareness and funds for persons with disabilities.
Background of the India’s Got Latent Controversy
The case stemmed from an episode of “India’s Got Latent” in which remarks made about persons with disabilities and about spinal muscular atrophy, a serious medical condition, triggered widespread public outrage. Following the backlash, multiple FIRs were registered against Samay Raina and several others associated with the show. The matter reached the Supreme Court after the Cure SMA India Foundation filed a petition arguing that such remarks undermined the dignity of persons living with disabilities. This is not the first time the apex court has intervened in the case: in November 2025, it had directed Raina and the other comedians to organise at least two awareness events every month and contribute to funding treatment for individuals affected by SMA, while also asking them to feature persons with disabilities in their shows and highlight their achievements.
