SC Slams Samay Raina Over Disability Remark

The Supreme Court has taken serious note of comedian Samay Raina’s remarks regarding an infant with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), expressing deep concern over the lack of sensitivity shown while discussing such a critical health issue.

The apex court’s remarks came after an intervention application was filed by the Cure SMA Foundation of India, which sought redressal against Raina’s alleged comments. It also raised the issue of exorbitant drug prices required to treat SMA, a rare and life-threatening genetic disorder.

One such treatment is Zolgensma, a one-time gene therapy widely considered one of the most expensive medicines in the world, costing approximately ₹16 crore.

The petition highlighted that the sheer cost of SMA medication places them beyond the reach of ordinary Indians. Despite India being a global hub for affordable generic medicine production, many families still struggle to access life-saving treatments, often turning to crowdfunding platforms in desperation.

Justice Surya Kant, expressing distress over Raina’s alleged remarks, said, “We are really disturbed by the allegations. We place such instances on record… implead the concerned persons… suggest measures. Then we will see.”

The petitioner urged the court to promote the “highest degree of sensitivity and compassion” when addressing issues that impact persons with disabilities, especially children suffering from rare and debilitating diseases.

The Issue

The controversy stems from Raina’s comments on his YouTube show India’s Got Latent, where he referenced a charity appeal involving a two-month-old infant needing a ₹16 crore injection.

In a satirical tone, Raina joked, “A two-month-old baby requires a ₹16 crore injection… 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 and say… ‘Hmmm… inflation is rising’?”

Widespread Backlash

This remark, perceived as making light of a family’s desperate attempt to save a child’s life, triggered massive backlash and drew the attention of disability rights groups and health activists.

Earlier on April 15, Raina and podcaster Ranveer Allahabadia had appeared before Maharashtra Cyber officials in connection with a separate complaint accusing them of promoting obscenity and vulgarity through their online content. The show India’s Got Latent has since faced multiple legal challenges.

The Supreme Court is now considering broader issues related to the accessibility of life-saving drugs and responsible public discourse, with the case expected to have far-reaching implications for both digital content creators and health policy in India.

(with inputs from IANS)

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