The Madras High Court on Friday granted interim anticipatory bail to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra in connection with an FIR filed against him in Mumbai over his alleged remarks targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Justice Sunder Mohan granted him protection from arrest until April 7 and issued notices to the Tamil Nadu government and Mumbai’s Khar Police Station.
The court took note of Kamra’s submission, presented by his lawyer V Suresh, that he had received death threats and threats of physical assault from Maharashtra ministers and leaders of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
Court Acknowledges Threats, Grants Protection
During the hearing, Kamra’s lawyer argued that his performance was purely satirical and did not directly name anyone. The court, acknowledging his fundamental right to freedom of speech, said it was inclined to provide interim protection.
“The petitioner is a stand-up comedian. He made comments in a show in January, and the video was released recently. The petitioner says he is facing life threats and is unable to approach courts in Maharashtra. This court is inclined to grant him interim anticipatory bail,” the court observed.
Kamra Seeks Bail Citing Safety Concerns
Kamra filed for transit anticipatory bail after multiple FIRs were lodged against him for his remarks in a recent stand-up performance at The Habitat comedy club in Khar, Mumbai. His parody song, inspired by the Bollywood film Dil Toh Pagal Hai, featured the word “gaddar” (traitor), seemingly aimed at Eknath Shinde.
The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) and its mouthpiece Saamana have frequently used the term “gaddar” to describe Shinde and his faction after their split from Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership in June 2022. Kamra’s performance led to a backlash from Shinde’s supporters, who vandalized the comedy club and a hotel on Sunday night.
Shiv Sena Leaders and Ministers Named in Petition
Kamra’s petition also detailed the threats he received from prominent Shiv Sena leaders and Maharashtra ministers, including Sanjay Nirupam, Naresh Mhaske, Murji Patel, Shamburaje Desai, Yogesh Ramdas Kadam, and Rahool Kanal.
His lawyer highlighted the serious nature of these threats, emphasizing that Kamra, who is a permanent resident of Villupuram, Tamil Nadu, sought relief from the Madras High Court as he felt unsafe approaching Maharashtra courts.
Mumbai Police Summons Kamra
The Mumbai Police had summoned Kamra to appear before them on March 31 in connection with the case. Earlier, he had requested seven days’ time, but the police denied his request, prompting him to seek legal protection from the court.
What’s Next?
With the Madras High Court granting him interim protection from arrest, Kamra has temporary legal relief. However, the legal battle over his performance continues, and the court has sought responses from the Tamil Nadu government and Mumbai police before further proceedings.
Sources By Agencies
