The Supreme Court quashed criminal proceedings against Samay Raina and four other comedians after noting their efforts to support persons with disabilities.
The Supreme Court on Friday quashed criminal cases against comedian Samay Raina and four others over allegedly insensitive remarks about persons with disabilities made on the online show India’s Got Latent.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana also set aside related proceedings against comedians Vipul Goyal, Balraj Paramjeet Singh Ghai, Sonali Thakkar alias Sonali Aditya Desai and Nishant Jagdish Tanwar.
“Matter qua respondents 6-10 is closed. Criminal proceedings against respondents 6-10 are hereby quashed. All other related proceedings are set aside,” the court said.
The Bench, however, kept the larger issue open and said it would hear suggestions from persons with disabilities before considering broader directions to prevent insensitive or objectionable online content.
The relief came after the court considered steps taken by Raina and the other comedians following its earlier directions to organise events and raise funds for persons with disabilities.
The court noted that the comedians had begun engaging with Cure SMA India Foundation, the NGO that had approached the Supreme Court over remarks concerning people suffering from Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).
The Bench appreciated what it described as constructive engagement between the comedians and the NGO.
“Once there are genuine efforts, positive results are bound to be there. They are very bright youngsters. If they have started working in positive direction, there will be positive output,” the court observed.
The comedians told the court that they had organised a chess tournament for persons with disabilities in Pune in March and planned four more fundraising shows.
They also expressed their willingness to invite people affected by SMA to future events and coordinate with the petitioner NGO to provide financial support.
The court was informed that Rs 12.5 crore had been generated through the shows and could be used for the welfare of persons with disabilities.
The Bench said the steps reflected compliance with its earlier directions and expected the comedians to continue working with the NGO on similar initiatives.
The case originated from remarks made during India’s Got Latent, including an episode shot at Khar Habitat in Mumbai in November 2024 and aired later.
Several people associated with the show faced criminal complaints over allegedly obscene or insensitive remarks.
Cure SMA India Foundation separately approached the Supreme Court, accusing Raina and others of making insensitive comments about the high cost of treatment for SMA and seeking safeguards against online content that could violate the dignity of persons with disabilities.
In November 2025, the Supreme Court directed Raina and the other comedians named in the petition to organise at least two events every month to raise money for the treatment and welfare of persons with disabilities.
The court later expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which those directions were followed and imposed costs of Rs 3 lakh each on Raina and others.
Friday’s order closed the criminal proceedings against Raina, Goyal, Ghai, Thakkar and Tanwar after the Bench accepted their subsequent compliance.
The wider proceedings will continue separately as the Supreme Court considers possible guidelines concerning online content and the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.
Content creator Ranveer Allahabadia, who also faced cases arising from India’s Got Latent, was not covered by Friday’s relief. His separate petition remains pending before the Supreme Court, which had earlier granted him interim protection from arrest.
