Comedian Samay Raina received a felicitation from Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at a cyber-awareness event in Mumbai. The ceremony marked a major turn of events for the comedian, who was previously questioned by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell over his YouTube show India’s Got Latent. Raina used the opportunity to make light of his past legal troubles, leaving the audience, including the Chief Minister, in laughter.
Samay Raina Honoured at Maharashtra Cyber Awareness Event
On August 26, 2026, Maharashtra Cyber launched its cyber-awareness short film Digital Arrest and the 1930 Maharashtra Cyber Anthem at an event in Mumbai. The event aimed to educate citizens about online fraud and the growing threat of “digital arrest” scams, where fraudsters impersonate police officers or government officials to extort money.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attended the event alongside several celebrities, including Ashish Vidyarthi, Pankaj Tripathi, Sharad Kelkar, Sonali Bendre, Javed Jaffrey, singer Sunidhi Chauhan, and Mangesh Desai. Samay Raina, who contributed to both the short film and the anthem, was felicitated by the Chief Minister for his participation.
Speaking at the event, CM Fadnavis stressed the importance of public awareness in fighting cybercrime. He said artists, actors, and singers could play a key role in reaching citizens with messages about online fraud.
“Cyber criminals dupe citizens by frightening and intimidating them in the name of police, the CBI or judges. Citizens must not fall prey to any such tactics and should immediately contact the cyber helpline number 1930 in case of cyber fraud.”
Comedian Turns Past Legal Troubles Into Jokes
During his felicitation, Samay Raina brought his trademark humour to the stage. Rather than avoiding his past run-in with the Maharashtra Cyber Cell, he turned it into a comedy bit that had the entire gathering laughing.
Raina thanked CM Fadnavis and joked about his “long-standing association” with Maharashtra Cyber.
“Thank you for the felicitation, sir. My association with Maha Cyber has been going on for a very long time. 1930 is really a great number. I have actually saved it because I often get calls from there.”
He further added:
“The Maha Cyber Cell is very active. I can tell you this for sure—whether you are there or whether you are in India, they will catch you.”
Raina then delivered his best punchline:
“Today, for the first time, it has happened that a Cyber Cell officer went to a comedian’s house and picked him up from his home, and this time there has been a felicitation.”
The remark was a direct reference to his previous experience when cyber cell officials summoned him for questioning over the India’s Got Latent controversy. CM Fadnavis and other celebrities were seen laughing at his comments.
The India’s Got Latent Controversy Explained
Samay Raina came under the Maharashtra Cyber Cell’s scrutiny in February 2025 over his YouTube show India’s Got Latent. The controversy erupted after guest podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, also known as BeerBiceps, made a highly inappropriate remark about parents and sex to a contestant.
Multiple FIRs were filed against Raina, Allahbadia, and other content creators associated with the show over allegations of promoting obscenity and sexually explicit content. Following the backlash, Raina was forced to remove all episodes of India’s Got Latent from YouTube.
When initially summoned for questioning, Raina was touring the United States and requested to record his statement via video conference. However, the Maharashtra Cyber Cell rejected his request, insisting that he appear in person and issuing multiple summons to ensure compliance. Raina eventually appeared before cyber cell officials in Mumbai for questioning and acknowledged his mistakes.
Supreme Court Provides Relief
In a major development, the Supreme Court quashed the FIRs and criminal proceedings against Samay Raina and four other social media personalities for their remarks on specially abled people. The court’s decision provided significant relief to the comedian, who had been facing legal pressure over the controversy.
Fans Celebrate the Comeback
Samay Raina later shared a video of his felicitation on Instagram, and fans quickly labelled it a “full circle moment”. Social media users praised the comedian for finding humour in an uncomfortable chapter of his life.
One fan wrote:
“This is how you turn the tables.”
Another commented:
“What a full circle moment.”
A third fan wrote:
“Downfall maybe anyway but comeback should be like this.”
One user summed up the sentiment:
“Sab samay samay ki baat hai (It is all a matter of time).”
Another added:
“Brilliant bro, isko bolte hai comeback (now that’s what you call a comeback).”
Samay Raina Launches Season 2 and New Projects
Despite the controversy, Samay Raina has made a strong return to the entertainment scene. He has now launched Season 2 of India’s Got Latent, with episodes being released on both YouTube and Netflix.
In 2026, Raina released his debut comedy special, Still Alive, on YouTube after nearly a year of hiatus from the platform. The special became the most viewed stand-up comedy special on YouTube.
He also announced two collaborations with Netflix India — the second season of India’s Got Latent and a new stand-up special. Raina previously went on a nationwide tour, “Still Alive And Unfiltered,” which was seen as his comeback following the controversy.
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Event Brings Together Celebrities for a Cause
The cyber-awareness event brought together several well-known faces from the entertainment industry. Apart from Samay Raina, actors Ashish Vidyarthi, Pankaj Tripathi, Sharad Kelkar, Sonali Bendre, Javed Jaffrey, and Mangesh Desai, along with singer Sunidhi Chauhan, were also felicitated for their contributions to the Digital Arrest short film and the 1930 Maharashtra Cyber Anthem.
Speaking to ANI, Ashish Vidyarthi said the campaign was important because technology, while making people’s lives easier, was also being used by criminals to target ordinary citizens.
“I feel that we all use technology to make our lives easier, and people use it to destroy the lives of ordinary people. I think this campaign is important so that you stop this crime from happening.”
The campaign seeks to raise awareness about the so-called “digital arrest” scam, in which fraudsters impersonate police officers, government officials, or other authorities to frighten victims and extort money from them. CM Fadnavis urged citizens to remain alert and contact the 1930 cyber helpline immediately if they fall victim to cyber fraud.
Also Read: Supreme Court Quashes All FIRs Against Samay Raina in India’s Got Latent Disability Remarks Case
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