THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, August 25: The Supreme Court has pulled up stand-up comedian Samay Raina along with several other social media and YouTube influencers for making insensitive and derogatory remarks against persons with disabilities. The court sternly observed that mocking people for monetary gain would not be tolerated.
Court orders unconditional apology
The bench directed all those involved to issue a public and unconditional apology on their YouTube channels and social media platforms. It further stated that fines would also be imposed on them.
Comedians under court scrutiny
Those asked to apologise include Samay Raina, Vipul Goyal, Balraj Paramjit Singh Ghai, Nishant Jagdish Tanwar, and Sonali Thakkar alias Sonali Aditya Desai.
However, the court exempted them from appearing in person during every hearing. The decision on the amount of fine or penalty will be taken later.
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‘Insult to the disabled will not be tolerated’
During the hearing, the court remarked that the struggles of families dealing with children suffering from serious conditions such as Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) are courageous. Making fun of them is not only inhumane but also violates their constitutional right to dignity.
The court made it clear that under the garb of satire or freedom of expression, one cannot trample upon the dignity and sensitivities of others. It also clarified that commercial content created by social media influencers falls under the category of “commercial speech” and not “free speech.”
I&B Ministry asked to frame guidelines
The Supreme Court instructed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to draft clear and comprehensive guidelines regarding the language and content used on social media and digital platforms.
It also said that these guidelines should not be a knee-jerk reaction to a single case but should be framed in a broader context, keeping in mind the growing influence of social media and evolving technology.
For this purpose, the ministry has been advised to consult with the NBDSA (News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority) and other stakeholders.
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Background of the case
The controversy began in May 2025 when a video of comedian Samay Raina went viral. In the clip, he made an insensitive joke about a 10-month-old baby suffering from Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and a charity campaign seeking ₹16 crore for treatment.
Raina mocked the fundraising appeal, saying what if the baby did not survive even after getting the injection, and further quipped that if the child survived and grew up to become a poet, it would be pointless. His remarks sparked widespread outrage.
