Priyanka Tiwari
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Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has filed a petition in the Bombay High Court seeking to nullify a police FIR lodged against him. The complaint accuses Kamra of referring to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as a "traitor" during a public performance.
Kamra submitted his plea on April 5, asserting that the FIR violates his constitutional rights — specifically, the right to free speech, to practice any profession, and to life and liberty.
Legal Representation and Hearing Date
The petition was submitted through Kamra’s legal counsel, advocate Meenaz Kakalia. The case is scheduled to be heard on April 21 by a bench led by Justice Sarang Kotwal.
Background of the FIR and Kamra’s Bail
Kamra, who resides in Tamil Nadu, previously received interim transit anticipatory bail from the Madras High Court. This order grants him temporary protection from arrest in relation to the FIR registered in Mumbai.
Despite receiving three summonses from the Mumbai Police, Kamra has not yet appeared for questioning.
Details of the Alleged Incident
The FIR was based on a segment from Kamra’s comedy act, where he referenced Eknath Shinde without directly naming him. Kamra modified a song from the film Dil To Pagal Hai, inserting the term "gaddar" (traitor) while joking about Shinde's political defection from Uddhav Thackeray’s faction.
Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel filed a complaint that led to the FIR. Authorities have charged Kamra under sections 353(1)(b) and 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, covering public mischief and defamation, respectively.
Kamra Requests Remote Statement Recording
Kamra has written to the Mumbai Police requesting that his statement be recorded via video conferencing. This request was made after he failed to respond to the prior summonses from Khar Police Station. So far, the police have not formally responded to his request.
On April 4, officers from Khar Police Station traveled to Pondicherry to investigate the matter. Kamra is a permanent resident of Tamil Nadu.
Temporary Relief Extended
The Madras High Court has extended Kamra’s interim anticipatory bail until April 7. This extension offers continued protection from arrest while the legal proceedings continue in another jurisdiction.
