India’s Supreme Court fines comedian Samay Raina ₹300,000; his show returns for second season on Netflix and YouTube

India’s Supreme Court imposed a ₹300,000 penalty on comedian Samay Raina on Tuesday for failing to comply with earlier directions to apologise and organise programmes for people with disabilities. The Independent reported that the bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, stated Raina had taken the court for a ride and was in brazen violation of statements given before it.

The court criticised Raina’s conduct while outside the country, with Chief Justice Kant saying those who think they are beyond jurisdiction should suffer now.

It warned the penalty would increase to ₹3 million if it was not satisfied with compliance at the next hearing. Cure SMA India Foundation petitioned the court in April 2025, accusing Raina and other comedians of mocking people living with disabilities and spinal muscular atrophy on the YouTube show India’s Got Latent.

The petition cited a routine joking about the ₹160 million cost of a life-saving injection for a two-month-old baby and remarks about a visually impaired person.

Last year the court directed Raina and the other comedians to publish unconditional apologies, indicate financial contributions, and organise at least two programmes every month highlighting achievements of people with disabilities. Senior advocate Aparajita Singh told the court that Raina had neither contacted the foundation nor invited people with disabilities to participate in his shows.

Raina’s lawyer said the foundation had not been contacted because the address was unknown, though people with disabilities had been invited to some events.