New Delhi [India], April 8: Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has approached the Bombay High Court seeking the cancellation of an FIR filed against him over his satirical remarks directed at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during a recent performance in his show ‘Naya Bharat’.
Kamra’s legal team filed a petition on April 5 challenging the FIR on constitutional grounds, arguing that it infringes on his fundamental rights to freedom of expression and life under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution.
Interim Relief Granted
A division bench comprising Justices SV Kotwal and SM Modak, while hearing the plea, granted interim protection from arrest till April 16, and issued notices to the Government of Maharashtra and Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel, the complainant, to respond.
Kamra’s lawyer highlighted that the comedian had offered to cooperate with authorities via video conferencing due to security threats, but the police insisted on his physical presence.
“This is not a murder case, it’s a comedy show. The authorities’ insistence on physical appearance despite safety risks is unreasonable,” the counsel said.
The FIR and Performance Controversy
The FIR stems from a parody song Kamra performed during a live show in Mumbai, where he allegedly mocked Eknath Shinde by tweaking the lyrics of the Bollywood classic ‘Bholi Si Surat’. The act sparked outrage among members of Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction, leading to multiple FIRs and threats against Kamra.
Following the incident, members of Yuva Sena vandalised Habitat Studio, the Mumbai venue where the performance took place.
BookMyShow Controversy
The controversy spilled over to ticketing platform BookMyShow, after Yuva Sena’s General Secretary Rahool N Kanal urged the platform to stop listing Kamra’s upcoming shows. In response, BookMyShow clarified that it facilitates ticket sales “with neutrality and in compliance with applicable laws.”
Kamra, in turn, asked the platform not to delist him or to share the contact data of users who had purchased tickets to his shows.
Kamra’s Response
Kamra has remained defiant, refusing to apologise for his satirical content. In a statement, he said:
“Your inability to take a joke at the expense of a powerful public figure does not change the nature of my right. As far as I know, it is not against the law to poke fun at our leaders and the circus that is our political system.”
He added that freedom of expression isn’t meant “just to fawn over the powerful and rich,” and vowed full cooperation with the police.
Legal Background
Kamra had earlier moved the Madras High Court seeking transit anticipatory bail, which was granted with protection extended until April 17. The Bombay High Court will hear further arguments in his petition challenging the FIR later this month.