Mumbai/Chennai: Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra was granted anticipatory bail by the Madras High Court Friday in connection with an FIR lodged against him in Mumbai. He is under fire for his remarks about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during a comedy set.
On 24 March, a First Information Report was lodged against Kamra in Mumbai for referring to Shiv Sena leader Shinde as a ‘gaddar’ (traitor) in his comedy special ‘Naya Bharat.’ This stirred political controversy, with Shiv Sena functionaries vandalising The Habitat Comedy Club at Hotel UniContinental in Khar, where Kamra performed the set Sunday (23 March).
Mumbai Police sent two summonses to Kamra, urging him to appear for questioning before 31 March.
In his petition, a copy of which ThePrint has accessed, Kamra said that “the FIR is an attempt to merely silence/censor an artist from using his voice and exercising his freedom of speech”.
The petition further said that anticipatory bail was sought from Madras High Court because Kamra is a resident of Tamil Nadu.
Kamra’s lawyer, V. Suresh, did not respond to ThePrint’s phone calls for comment. The report will be if and when a response is received.
What the petition says
In his petition, Kamra said that, as a part of the show, he had been touring the country, performing in multiple cities on themes including the Ambani wedding, feminism, the impact of Diwali and Indian billionaires. His set also included parody songs.
He said he had received several threats on various social media platforms and his personal email and mobile, but also publicly from politicians, including Sanjay Nirupam, Minister Shambhuraj Desai, MoS Yogesh Kadam, Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel, MP Naresh Mhaske, Shiv Sena leader Rahul Kanal.
“Such threats and warnings are primarily coming out of the Mumbai area. These are death threats and threats of harm to my life and the lives of my loved ones,” Kamra said.
The FIR was filed on the basis of a complaint by Shiv Sena MLA Muraji Patel, under Sections 353 (public mischief) (1)(b) and (2) and 356(2) (defamation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Meanwhile, a breach of privilege notice was also filed against Kamra by the Maharashtra Legislative Council Wednesday. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushma Andhare has also been named in the notice for supporting the performance, which was accepted by the committee.
(Edited by Sanya Mathur)
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