Stand-up comedian and YouTuber Samay Raina has come under serious public and legal scrutiny for his allegedly insensitive remarks targeting people with disabilities and an infant diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The controversy, which has already sparked outrage online, reached the Supreme Court, where justices expressed deep concern over the comedian’s comments during his show.
In the now-viral clip, Samay reportedly mocked visually impaired individuals and made light of a real-life case involving a two-month-old child in urgent need of a life-saving drug called Zolgensma. The drug, used to treat SMA, carries a price tag of approximately ₹16 crore. During his performance, Raina referred to the incident as “something crazy,” saying, “A two-month-old baby requires a ₹16 crore injection,” before turning to a woman in the audience and continuing, “Ma’am, you tell me… if you were that mother and one day ₹16 crore appeared in your bank account… while you had a two-month-old… wouldn’t you at least look at your husband once and say… ‘Hmmm… inflation is rising’.”
In another part of his show, Samay directed a comment toward a blind individual in the audience, reportedly saying, “Can I ask you a question, my brother… which of your eyes should I look into?… You look at God’s eyes…”
These remarks sparked immediate backlash from the public and disability rights advocates, leading the M/s Cure SMA Foundation to file a plea in the Supreme Court. The foundation accused the comedian of belittling and demeaning persons with disabilities and their struggles, especially in the context of a life-threatening condition like SMA.
Reacting to the plea, the Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh held a hearing on April 21. The bench noted, “This is very very serious issue. We are really disturbed to see that.” Justice Surya Kant added, “We would like [you] to place on record the instances also. If you have video-clipping along with transcript, bring them. Implead the concerned persons. Also suggest measures which according to you… Then we will see.
The court has taken the issue seriously and asked for a detailed petition, transcripts of the show, and the names of the individuals involved. It also asked for suggestions on preventive actions that could be taken to avoid such instances in the future.
Senior Advocate Aparajita Singh, representing the Cure SMA Foundation, was asked to file a comprehensive petition. The foundation also appealed to the court to take note of the exorbitant cost of critical drugs like Zolgensma and consider its accessibility for patients in India. It emphasized that most affected families rely on public donations and crowdfunding as these medications remain out of financial reach.
The foundation’s plea went further, demanding the regulation of “any derogatory, denigrating, ableist, and/or belittling content against persons with disability, their diseases, and their treatment options.” It stressed that such content “impinges upon the fundamental rights and dignity of persons with disabilities,” promotes harmful stereotypes, and fosters societal insensitivity. It added that this ultimately affects the mental well-being and social inclusion of persons with disabilities.
“This misuse… leads to their alienation from society which makes them even more susceptible to discrimination and indignities,” the plea stated.
The controversy has escalated alongside another row involving Samay Raina’s comedy show India’s Got Latent, which has also drawn criticism and placed fellow stand-up comedian Ranveer Allahbadia in the spotlight.
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