Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra approached the Madras High Court seeking transit anticipatory bail in connection with an FIR lodged against him in Mumbai over his alleged remarks against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Kunal, a permanent resident of Villupuram in Tamil Nadu, argued that the Madras High Court has jurisdiction to hear his plea. According to a Live Law report, the matter was urgently mentioned before Justice Sunder Mohan on Friday (March 28).
The FIR against the comedian was initially registered as a Zero FIR under Sections 353(1)(b), 353(2) (Public Mischief), and 356(2) (Defamation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on a complaint by Shiv Sena MLA Muraji Patel. The case has since been transferred to the Khar police station in Mumbai.
Although Kunal did not explicitly name Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in his remarks, party workers alleged that he indirectly referred to Shinde as a 'traitor,' alluding to his role in splitting from the Shiv Sena.
The case has sparked debate over the limits of political satire and free speech in India, with Kunal's supporters arguing that comedians should be allowed to critique public figures without fear of legal action.
The Madras High Court is expected to take up Kamra’s plea for further consideration in the coming days.
Case against Kunal Kamra
On Monday, the 36-year-old comedian released his show 'Naya Bharat' on all his social media platforms. The MIDC police registered a zero FIR against him for allegedly defaming Shinde and publishing or circulating false statements and rumours.
Another FIR was registered against Shiv Sena Yuva Sena (Shinde faction) General Secretary Rahul Kanal, Kunal Sarmalkar, and around 40 other party workers for allegedly vandalising Habitat, a stand-up comedy venue, where the video was recorded. The case was filed under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Maharashtra Police Act, with nearly 13 sections applied against the accused, including charges of obstructing government work, rioting, intimidation, unlawful assembly, and trespassing.
The Khar police had arrested Rahul and 12 other party workers, on Monday, who were released on bail the same day.
Kunal Kamra's statement
Following the controversy, Kunal issued a statement, asserting that he will not apologise. He also stated that it is "not against the law to poke fun at leaders and the circus that is the political system."
"I will not apologise. What I said is exactly what Mr. Ajit Pawar (1st deputy CM) said about Mr. Eknath Shinde (2nd Deputy CM). I don't fear this mob & I will not be hiding under my bed, waiting for this to die down," he said.
