The Supreme Court on Monday directed comedian Samay Raina, creator of the show India’s Got Latent, and four others to issue public apologies on their social media platforms for making insensitive jokes about an infant suffering from spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi made it clear that the next hearing would decide the penalty to be imposed on Raina, Vipul Goyal, Balraj Paramjeet Singh Ghai, Sonali Thakkar alias Sonali Aditya Desai, and Nishant Jagdish Tanwar. The directive came after the comedians appeared before the court and submitted written apologies.
The order was passed while hearing an application by the Cure SMA Foundation of India, which raised objections to the stand-up comedians’ remarks on fundraising efforts by families struggling to afford treatment for SMA, a rare and life-threatening genetic disease.
The case is linked to a larger petition filed by the foundation over the prohibitive cost of life-saving SMA drugs, including Zolgensma, a one-time gene therapy priced at nearly Rs 16 crore. The foundation argued that public discourse on such issues must be treated with the “highest degree of sensitivity and compassion.”
During a segment of his show, Raina had highlighted a case of a two-month-old baby requiring the costly injection. He went on to make a remark comparing the expense with inflation, which triggered widespread criticism. The Cure SMA Foundation said the comments trivialised the struggles of families already burdened with exorbitant medical costs.
The Supreme Court had earlier observed that jokes targeting people with disabilities violate their fundamental right to dignity. The bench also indicated that it is considering framing broader guidelines on stand-up comedy and freedom of expression, particularly with regard to obscene or insensitive content shared online.
The controversy intensified when a clip of the show featuring YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia went viral, drawing backlash over remarks on parents and sexual themes. Multiple police complaints were lodged in Mumbai and Guwahati against those associated with the show.
Raina had earlier submitted a written apology to the National Commission for Women, expressing regret over his comments. The latest order from the Supreme Court signals a stronger judicial intervention in balancing artistic freedom with social responsibility.
The court’s direction comes at a time when debates over humour, free speech, and respect for vulnerable communities continue to sharpen, with the SMA case underlining the real-world consequences of insensitive commentary in entertainment.
