One major flashpoint was during the sixth episode of India’s Got Latent when contestant Santosh Patra performed jokes that belittled people with disabilities. Shockingly the judges initially endorsed these remarks sparking outrage online.
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In a landmark move, the Supreme court has directed popular comedian and YouTuber Samay Raina and three other comedians to invite individuals with disabilites with inspiring success stories to perform or appear on their shows.
The purpose is to use their popularity to raise funds for timely and effective treatment of persons with disabilities.
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Chief Justice Surya Kant addressing the comedians said, “We hope and expect that such few memorable events will take place before we hear the matter next. It’s a social burden we are putting on you, not a penal burden. You are all well-placed persons in society. If you have become too popular, then share it with others.”
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This directive comes after a plea by the Cure SMA Foundation, which complained about comedians making insensitive and derogatory remarks about people living with disabilities.
The Supreme Court has directed Comedian and YouTuber Samay Raina and three other comedians to invite specially-abled persons with success stories to shows held on their platforms, to generate and raise funds for the timely and effective treatment of persons with disabilities.…
— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2025
The court’s intervention was fueled by multiple incidents of derogatory remarks on comedy platforms. One major flashpoint was during the sixth episode of India’s Got Latent when contestant Santosh Patra performed jokes that belittled people with disabilities. Shockingly the judges initially endorsed these remarks sparking outrage online.
Another controversial figure was Banti Banerjee, a contestant and winner on the tenth episode. Her performance included jokes that many found offensive ranging from comments on celebrities’ mental health to personal attacks on public figures.
During one performance, Banerjee referenced actress Deepika Padukone’s motherhood and past struggles with depression. She joked, “Now she knows what depression really looks like. Actual depression happens when your sleep breaks, and your kid wakes in the middle of the night at 3 am and the kid wants to eat, poop, or play, in any order.”
The comment triggered backlash across social media. Banerjee later admitted she was intentionally mocking Padukone’s depression following her breakup. Even host Samay Raina responded with a remark on Instagram: “To everyone who is outraging on Twitter, one request: Could you please outrage in my YouTube comment section so I get some ad revenue from the traction, at least.”
The controversy didn’t end with disabilities or celebrity jokes. During one episode, guest judge Uorfi Javed was called derogatory names including a reference to adult actress Mia Khalifa, after a verbal disagreement with a contestant who had faked a disability.
The incident escalated to the point where Javed walked off the show, and Balraj Ghai replaced her for the final performances.
The show also faced accusations of racism and cultural insensitivity. In the fifth bonus episode, contestant Jessy Nabam, who hails from Arunachal Pradesh, joked that people in her state consume dog meat and sometimes even their pets.
This comment offended many leading to an FIR filed against her for derogatory and defamatory remarks against indigenous people.
Adding to the controversy, on 10 February 2025, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the Guwahati Police had filed an FIR against Samay Raina and other YouTubers, including Ashish Chanchlani, Jaspreet Singh, Apoorva Makhija, and Ranveer Allahbadia. They were accused of promoting obscenity and engaging in sexually explicit discussions.
The FIR cited several laws including the IT Act, 2000, the Cinematograph Act, 1952, Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986. The investigation is ongoing. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) raised objections about some content. The show had to ultimately go down from YouTube.
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