# Supreme Court quashes criminal cases against Samay Raina, four comedians

2026-08-14T10:23:06+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 6 independent outlets

The Supreme Court on Friday quashed criminal proceedings against comedian Samay Raina and four other comedians over insensitive remarks about persons with disabilities on the show India's Got Latent. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant noted their "genuine efforts", including a chess tournament for disabled persons and fundraising for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) patients, and said positive results follow such work. The court closed the case against Raina, Vipul Goyal, Balraj Ghai, Sonali Thakkar, and Nishant Tanwar. However, the broader issue of safeguards for online content remains alive, with the court inviting suggestions from disability groups. Separately, podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, also named in the controversy, still faces a pending case; he has interim protection from arrest. The court had earlier fined each of the five comedians Rs 3 lakh for failing to comply with its directions to engage with the Cure SMA India Foundation.

## Coverage

- hindustantimes.com <https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/genuine-efforts-supreme-court-drops-criminal-cases-against-raina-4-comedians-101786700863280.html>
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/sc-quashes-all-firs-against-samay-raina-ranveer-allahabadia-in-indias-got-latent-case/articleshow/133233102.cms>
- livemint.com <https://www.livemint.com/news/india/samay-raina-gets-relief-sc-dismisses-firs-against-stand-up-comedian-and-4-others-over-remarks-about-disabled-persons-11786697042196.html>
- news.abplive.com <https://news.abplive.com/entertainment/celebrities/supreme-court-closes-case-against-samay-raina-four-others-over-jokes-on-persons-with-disabilities-1862054>
- indiatvnews.com <https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/news/supreme-court-quashes-criminal-cases-against-samay-raina-and-four-comedians-over-remarks-over-specially-abled-2026-08-14-1051363>
- indiatoday.in <https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/supreme-court-dismisses-firs-against-comedian-samay-raina-over-remarks-on-specially-abled-persons-2971149-2026-08-14?utm_source=rss>

Tags: free speech, India’s Got Latent, persons with disabilities, Samay Raina, SMA, Supreme Court
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