SC Slams Comedian Samay Raina Over “Disturbing” Content Mocking Disabled; More Legal Trouble Likely

YouTuber and stand-up comedian Samay Raina, already under scrutiny in the ongoing India's Got Latent controversy, may soon face deeper legal challenges. The Supreme Court on Friday expressed serious concern over videos attributed to Raina that allegedly mock persons with disabilities—including patients suffering from Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), as well as blind and cross-eyed individuals.

SC Slams Comedian Samay Raina Over “Disturbing” Content 

The observations came during hearings in petitions filed by podcasters Ranveer Allahbadia and Ashish Chanchlani. An intervening application by the Cure SMA Foundation alleged that Raina, in two videos, ridiculed the treatment and struggles of SMA patients—particularly highlighting a case involving a two-month-old child who needed a life-saving injection worth ₹16 crore. The Supreme Court had earlier facilitated the treatment by waiving ₹6 crore in import duty to help secure the medication through crowdfunding.

“Very Serious Issue,” Says SC

“This is a very serious issue. We are disturbed to see that,” remarked Justice Surya Kant, sitting alongside Justice Kothishwar Singh. The bench advised the applicant to file a separate petition focused on the issue, while also allowing them to place relevant video clips on record and move to implead Raina in the current matter.

The application also cited media reports involving a controversial video with cricketers Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, and Suresh Raina—alleging the content made fun of people with disabilities.

According to the Cure SMA Foundation, these videos are not isolated incidents but part of a larger, worrying pattern: “Persons with disabilities are repeatedly portrayed as subjects of derision, pity, or public amusement.” The Foundation urged the court to include specific protections for disabled individuals under the proposed framework for regulating online content.

Co-Accused Faces Court Questions

During the same hearing, the bench also took note of Ranveer Allahbadia’s request for the release of his passport. Justice Kant turned to his lawyer, Abhinav Chandrachud, and said, “Go through the allegations made by one of the applicants against one of your co-accused. Look at the way!”

The court inquired whether Allahbadia was aware of any other accused who had failed to appear before investigating agencies—hinting at a tightening probe around online influencers, comedians, and content creators accused of offensive or non-compliant content.

As the Supreme Court continues to hear matters linked to online content regulation, the case involving Samay Raina may serve as a landmark in setting digital accountability standards—particularly around sensitive content involving vulnerable communities.