Supreme Court Imposes Rs 3 Lakh Fine On Samay Raina; Says, "He Has Taken The Court For A Ride"

The Supreme Court has imposed a cost of Rs 3 lakh on comedian Samay Raina, observing that he allegedly made false statements before the court and failed to comply with its earlier directions in connection with proceedings related to the 'India's Got Latent' controversy.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice J.V. Mohana directed Raina to deposit the amount within two weeks. The court also warned that coercive action would follow if he failed to comply.

Court Says Samay Raina 'Took The Court For A Ride':

While passing the order, the bench expressed strong displeasure over Raina's conduct. “You have taken the court for a ride," the bench remarked. The matter was heard alongside petitions filed by content creators Ranveer Allahbadia and Ashish Chanchlani, as well as the Cure SMA Foundation, following the controversy surrounding remarks made during the first season of 'India's Got Latent'.

Alleged Non-Compliance With Directions On SMA Foundation:

During the hearing, Senior Advocate Aparajita Singh informed the court that Raina had allegedly failed to contact the Cure SMA Foundation or individuals suffering from Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), despite assurances given earlier before the court.

“Samay Raina is doing shows but has not contacted the SMA Foundation or persons suffering from SMA as per the court's order. I don't know what kind of youth icon he is. I shudder to think," Singh submitted. The court was told that the comedian had not taken the steps he had previously assured it he would.

Photo Credit: Instagram

Centre Questions Raina's Conduct:

Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also raised concerns over Raina's recent actions. Referring to one of the comedian's performances, Mehta suggested that Raina appeared to be mocking the ongoing legal proceedings.

“Recently, he started a new show. He said that now, at the beginning, he is doing something which he did not do in the last series. He hangs nimbu-mirchi. He did not name anyone, but the reference was quite visible," Mehta told the court.

The Solicitor General added that he initially chose not to bring the issue to the court's attention but decided to do so after learning about the alleged non-compliance regarding the SMA Foundation.

Defence Assures Court Of Compliance:

Responding to the concerns raised, Raina's counsel told the court that the failure to contact the foundation was not due to arrogance or ego. The counsel assured the bench that efforts would be made to persuade the comedian to comply with the court's directions.

“Not contacting the SMA Foundation has not happened due to ego. As officers of the court, we will try to impress upon our client," the counsel said.

Supreme Court Warns Against Defying Jurisdiction:

The Chief Justice also made strong observations about individuals who believe they can avoid legal consequences by staying outside India. “They think sitting outside the country, they are beyond jurisdiction. Let them suffer now. If this is not arrogance, then we have to change the Oxford dictionary also," the CJI observed.

Latest Development In 'India's Got Latent' Controversy:

The court's remarks and the financial penalty mark the latest development in the legal fallout from the 'India's Got Latent' controversy. The case has sparked wider discussions around content standards, accountability of digital creators and the importance of complying with judicial directions.