India's Supreme Court fines Samay Raina and influencers Rs 3 lakh for non‑compliance

The Supreme Court of India imposed a cost of Rs 3 lakh each on comedian Samay Raina and other digital creators, including YouTubers Ranveer Allahbadia and Ashish Chanchlani, after finding they had failed to comply with earlier directives. The bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, said Raina had "taken the court for a ride" and "brazenly violated" its orders to invite persons with disabilities and issue an unconditional public apology for remarks that mocked Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) patients.

Initially, the court had proposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on Raina, but reduced it to Rs 3 lakh on account of a last‑minute appeal. The judges warned that the penalty could rise to Rs 30 lakh if the influencers do not deposit the amount within two weeks. The Court also directed the Centre to consider enacting a stricter law penalising derogatory remarks about persons with disabilities, likening the potential legislation to the SC‑ST Act. "Let them suffer now. If this is not arrogance, then we have to change the Oxford dictionary also," the Chief Justice remarked.