'Let Them Suffer Now': Why Supreme Court Imposed INR 3 Lakh Fine on Samay Raina and Ranveer Allahbadia

The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday heavily reprimanded comedian Samay Raina and popular internet personalities Ranveer Allahbadia and Ashish Chanchlani, imposing a fine of INR 3 lakh each for failing to comply with its directives. Pulling up the digital creators, a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant observed that the influencers had "taken the court for a ride" and actively violated legal undertakings. The apex court's stern action follows a long-standing controversy surrounding insensitive remarks directed at individuals with disabilities on Raina’s digital comedy show, India's Got Latent.

Why Did the Supreme Court Rap Samay Raina and Ranveer Allahbadia?

The apex court's sharp intervention stems from the influencers' failure to comply with a judicial mandate aimed at promoting sensitivity and supporting marginalized communities. In an earlier ruling, the Supreme Court directed Samay Raina and his co-respondents to actively feature specially-abled individuals on their widely-viewed platforms. This order was intended to generate funds and build awareness for individuals diagnosed with rare genetic disorders, such as Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). ‘Took the Court for a Ride’: Supreme Court Slams Samay Raina, Ranveer Allahbadia Over Non-Compliance.

During Tuesday's proceedings, Senior Advocate Aparajita Singh, representing the petitioner organization Cure SMA India Foundation, informed the bench that the comedians had made zero effort to coordinate with the foundation or invite specially-abled individuals to their programs. Furthermore, while Raina's counsel claimed that a compliance affidavit had been filed the previous day, the bench noted that no such document existed on record, viewing the claim as a deliberate misdirection.

'If This Is Not Arrogance' — What the Bench Said

The Supreme Court bench, which also included Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, expressed deep displeasure at the conduct of the content creators, particularly noting that some appeared to believe that staying outside the country exempted them from the court's jurisdiction.

"Let them suffer now. If this is not arrogance, then we have to change the Oxford dictionary also," observed CJI Surya Kant. The Chief Justice added, "In public life, the more you respect others, the more respect you earn. You don't humiliate people."

Justice Joymalya Bagchi questioned the defence's arguments that funds were being raised externally, stating, "You should have invited the client of Ms. Aparajita Singh and done the show. Now you are giving a sense that you are trying to buy them out. If you used their disability to showcase your fundamental right to have commercial speech... what about their fundamental right to dignity?" ‘Vachindamma Girl’ Geni Kamki’s Cute Request to Samay Raina for Boyfriend Wins Hearts After Viral ‘India’s Got Latent S2’ Appearance (Watch Video).

Context of the 'India’s Got Latent' Controversy

The legal battle originated from a petition filed by the Cure SMA India Foundation. The organization flagged highly insensitive jokes made by host Samay Raina and various guest influencers regarding the steep financial costs of treating Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

The legal trouble widened when podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia appeared on the show, making remarks that faced widespread criticism for violating societal standards of decency. The controversy led to multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) being registered across different states, prompting the digital creators to approach the Supreme Court for relief and consolidation of the cases.

Strict Penalties and Strict Deadlines Set by Court

Refusing to tolerate further delays, the Supreme Court directed Samay Raina, Ranveer Allahbadia, and Ashish Chanchlani to deposit the ₹3 lakh fine within a strict two-week window. The bench also explicitly warned that any further non-compliance with the original directives would result in the penalty escalating sharply to ₹30 lakh.

Alongside the financial penalty, the court reiterated its demand for the influencers to display unconditional public apologies on their respectivos shows and podcasts, emphasizing that freedom of speech does not include a license to compromise human dignity for commercial gain.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 14, 2026 07:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).