Samay Raina Fined ₹3 Lakh by SC; Court Warns of Harsher Action
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
The Supreme Court on Tuesday reportedly imposed a ₹3 lakh fine on comedian Samay Raina, saying he had violated its earlier orders and "taken the court for a ride." The court warned that if it is not satisfied with his conduct at the next hearing, the fine could be increased to ₹30 lakh. The judges said everyone must respect the court and avoid hurting the sentiments of any community.
The court first reportedly announced a fine of ₹10 lakh, but later reduced it to ₹3 lakh after Raina's lawyer requested one final chance and appealed for leniency. While reducing the amount, the court made it clear that future violations would lead to stricter action.
The Show That Started it All
The case is linked to controversial remarks made during the comedy show "India's Got Latent." The Supreme Court had earlier taken serious note of jokes that allegedly mocked persons with disabilities. On May 5, the court summoned five influencers and stand-up comedians, including Samay Raina, over the matter.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had reportedly said that any speech or content that insults or demeans a community or a group of people cannot be accepted. The judges stressed that freedom of expression comes with responsibility and should not be used to spread disrespect or humiliation.
As part of its earlier directions, the court had also asked Samay Raina to host monthly fundraising shows on his platforms featuring inspiring stories of specially abled individuals.
Last year, the apex court had also directed Raina and four other stand-up comedians to issue public apologies on social media for making insensitive jokes about an infant suffering from spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The court said it would decide the penalty in the next hearing after noting that the comedians had already submitted written apologies and appeared before the bench.
The case stems from an application by the Cure SMA Foundation of India, which objected to jokes made during India's Got Latent about the high cost of SMA treatment and fundraising. The Supreme Court has also observed that jokes targeting persons with disabilities can violate their right to dignity and is considering framing guidelines on freedom of speech for stand-up comedians and online content.
