Mumbai, April 8 – Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra will appear before the Bombay High Court today seeking the quashing of an FIR filed against him for referring to Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde as a “gaddar” (traitor) in a parody song during a live show.
The FIR, lodged on March 24 at Mumbai’s Khar Police Station, was based on a complaint by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel, accusing Kamra of public mischief and defamation under Sections 353(1)(b), 353(2), and 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Why the Urgent Hearing?
Kamra, who resides in Tamil Nadu’s Villupuram district, claims he is receiving death threats over the video clip, and that Mumbai Police reached Pondicherry to serve summons. His counsel sought an urgent hearing as Madras High Court’s interim protection against arrest expires today, April 8.
The Bombay High Court bench of Justice Sarang Kotwal and Justice SM Modak agreed to pre-pone the hearing (earlier scheduled for April 21), stating the matter involves fundamental rights, not just criminal law.
Kamra’s Argument
In his plea, Kamra contends that the FIR is an attempt to curb freedom of speech, protected under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. The parody song, he argues, was satire referring to the 2022 political split within the Shiv Sena, when Eknath Shinde joined hands with the BJP.
What’s Next?
The High Court will today decide whether to grant relief to Kamra or direct him to seek anticipatory bail in the jurisdictional court. The case raises key questions about artistic expression vs political sensitivity.
