New Delhi. The Supreme Court on Friday canceled all the FIRs registered against stand-up comedian Samay Raina and four others. These cases were related to the objectionable comments he made about persons with disabilities in an episode of his show 'India's Got Latent'.
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A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana said that Samay Raina and others have complied with the Supreme Court's direction to organize awareness programs and raise funds for persons with disabilities.
Against which people was FIR registered?
Apart from Samay Raina, the FIR lodged against Vipul Goyal, Balraj Paramjit Singh Ghai, Sonali Thakkar alias Sonali Aditya Desai and Nishant Jagdish Tanwar was also canceled by the Supreme Court. During the last hearing, the Supreme Court had imposed a fine of Rs 3 lakh on Samay Raina and four others. The court had said that he had misled the court by not following through on the assurances given for reforms.
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Cure SMA India Foundation had filed a petition in the Supreme Court. It was alleged that Samay Raina made insensitive remarks about the high cost of treatment for spinal muscular atrophy and made fun of a disabled person. The petition also mentioned the comments of 'India's Got Latent' host Samay Raina and other influencers. These included Vipul Goyal, Balraj Paramjit Singh Ghai, Sonali Thakkar and Nishant Jagdish Tanwar.
What did the Supreme Court say?
The bench said that Samay Raina and others have made “sincere efforts” to organize awareness programs and raise funds for persons with disabilities. The court said that when honest efforts are made, positive results are certain. They are very talented young people. If they have started working in a positive direction then positive results will emerge. However, the bench said it would hear the matter further. Its objective is to take suggestions from persons with disabilities on ways to ensure better control over such content and to frame necessary instructions in this regard.
FIR cancelled, then on which issue is the Supreme Court hearing?
The bench said that the case related to defendants 6-10 (accused comedian) is closed. The criminal proceedings against defendants 6-10 are quashed. All other proceedings related to this are also cancelled. The matter should be listed for issuing instructions on the larger issue. The corresponding episode of 'India's Got Latent' was shot on 14 November 2024 in Khar Habitat, Mumbai. It was broadcast later. Several criminal cases were filed against several influencers and comedians involved in the show for making insensitive comments about persons with disabilities.
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Ranveer Allahabadia's petition pending
YouTuber and entrepreneur Ranveer Allahbadia was also among those booked for objectionable comments. They are also known as “beer biceps”. Ranveer Allahbadia had approached the Supreme Court for relief in the cases registered against him. His petition is still pending in the Supreme Court. The court had earlier given him interim protection from arrest.