Supreme Court Expresses Displeasure Over Samay Raina's Conduct in 'India's Got Latent' Case
Supreme Court's Discontent with Samay Raina
During the proceedings related to the 'India's Got Latent' controversy, the Supreme Court voiced strong disapproval of comedian Samay Raina. The court made several pointed remarks regarding allegations of non-compliance with prior directives. This hearing was connected to petitions arising from an FIR filed due to offensive comments made during the show. Throughout the session, the bench repeatedly questioned Raina's behavior, adherence to previous court orders, and the actions he took after assuring the court that he would raise awareness by including individuals with disabilities in the show.
Court Questions Compliance with Previous Assurances
According to reports, advocate Aparajita Singh, representing the petitioners, argued that the defendants had failed to fulfill their promises made before the court. Singh remarked on the arrogance displayed, stating, 'I will not bow down.' In response, Raina's lawyer claimed that individuals with disabilities were indeed invited to the show, providing photographs as evidence. However, the lawyer acknowledged that it was unfortunate if Singh's clients were not contacted, assuring that they would exert pressure on their client to rectify this. This explanation did not satisfy the bench. Chief Justice B.R. Gavai commented, 'We have been granting freedom for a long time. We thought you were a young person from a respectable family who would work on this... but nothing is happening.' When Singh reiterated that this was merely arrogance, Raina's lawyer countered, stating, 'There is no arrogance.' The Chief Justice then quipped, 'If this is not arrogance, we may need to consult the Oxford Dictionary.'
Court Imposes Fine for Misleading Conduct
During the hearing, the court expressed strong dissatisfaction with misleading arguments presented. The Chief Justice stated that there was no reason to believe that Samay Raina had misled the court or willfully violated its orders. This misconduct was deemed more serious since the affidavit was submitted when nothing was on record. The court ordered Raina to deposit ₹10 lakh within two weeks, warning that failure to comply could lead to further legal action. The bench also took action against other individuals involved in the case. Initially, the court imposed a uniform fine of ₹5 lakh on all parties for not adhering to previous directives and for failing to present an updated status report despite three hearings. When the lawyer requested a waiver of the fine, the Chief Justice declined, stating that the penalty was imposed due to their failure to comply with court orders. After the lawyer mentioned that the affidavit was filed late, the bench reduced the fine to ₹3 lakh but issued a stern warning. The Chief Justice remarked, 'If you do not comply, this could escalate to ₹30 lakh.'