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.
