The Supreme Court has expressed serious concern over certain jokes made by stand-up comedian Samay Raina, which allegedly targeted blind individuals and a child battling Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)—a rare and life-threatening genetic condition that requires an extremely expensive injection for treatment.
The comments, made during Raina’s stand-up show ‘India’s Got Latent’, have now been brought to the attention of the apex court. Raina has been impleaded in an ongoing case, which already involves scrutiny over another comedian, Ranveer Allahbadia, for remarks about parents and sex.
“We are really disturbed by the allegations. We place such instances on record... implead the concerned persons... suggest measures. Then we will see,” Justice Surya Kant said, responding to an intervention plea filed by the Cure SMA Foundation of India.
The Foundation has not only taken issue with the content of the performance but has also urged the court to examine the broader issue of exorbitant drug prices for rare diseases such as SMA. Zolgensma, a one-time gene therapy used to treat SMA, reportedly costs around ₹16 crore—an amount well beyond the reach of most Indian families. The Foundation pointed out that public fundraising or crowdsourcing is often the only viable option for accessing such life-saving treatments, and that making jokes about these efforts is harmful and insensitive.
The Foundation’s primary request is for the Supreme Court to direct the Union Government to incorporate specific provisions in upcoming regulatory guidelines. These would prohibit content that is derogatory, ableist, or belittling toward individuals with disabilities, their medical conditions, or the challenges they face in accessing treatment.
The proposed regulations, it suggested, should also apply to online content publishers, including influencers and platforms that curate or disseminate news and entertainment.
Highlighting the need for "the highest degree of sensitivity and compassion" when addressing the lives of people affected by SMA and similar conditions, the Foundation said this sensitivity is undermined when public figures use such subjects for humor. It pointed to Raina’s performance as a particularly troubling example.
What Did Samay Raina Say?
In the clip in question, Raina referred to a "charity case" involving a two-month-old infant needing a ₹16 crore injection. He commented, “A two-month-old baby requires a ₹16 crore injection,” and then, turning to an audience member, added, “Ma’am, if you were that mother and one day ₹16 crore appeared in your bank account… wouldn’t you at least look at your husband once and say, ‘Hmm... inflation is rising’?”
Raina is also facing criticism for comments directed at a blind person during the show, reportedly asking, “Can I ask you a question, my brother... which of your eyes should I look into?” and telling another, “You look at God’s eyes…”
The Foundation has characterized these remarks as reflective of a wider pattern of online content that treats persons with disabilities as objects of ridicule or pity. It emphasized that the right to free speech should not extend to casual or dismissive commentary on issues that deeply affect real lives, adding that such statements should not be brushed off as satire.