CHENNAI — The Madras High Court on Friday granted interim protection from arrest to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, in a case booked against him by the Mumbai Police in connection with his recent satire video “Naya Bharat” allegedly making sarcastic comments against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in his latest comedy show.
Kamra approached the Madras High Court citing his domicile in Tamil Nadu, where he has been residing at a far off village in Villupuram district since February 2021, and his inability to approach the jurisdictional courts in Maharashtra fearing arrest and bodily harm by the Shiva Sena cadre, TNIE reported.
Finding a prima facie case in favour of the comedian, Justice Sunder Mohan ordered granting of inter-state anticipatory bail till April 7, 2025.
Senior counsel V Suresh, appearing for the comedian, submitted that Kamra has received more than 500 phone calls issuing threat to his life. Several persons, including a sitting minister of Maharashtra issued him open threat and they are threatening to “teach him a lesson in Shiv Sena’s style”.
Stating that Kamra is a stand up comedian making satire and parody, the counsel told the court he has not named any person in his later satire video “Naya Bharat”.
In his application seeking inter-state bail, the comedian stated that he apprehended arrest by the Khar police, in Mumbai, as they have registered an FIR against him under sections 353 (1) (b), 353 (2) and 356 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 on March 24.
He said he was falsely implicated in the case feared arrest and bodily harm if he were to travel to Mumbai and seek anticipatory bail there because the threats are being chillingly made in public by political party cadre.
Twice summoned by the Mumbai police, the 36-year-old stand-up comic’s caustic comments on Shinde during his latest show in Mumbai have landed him in trouble and triggered a huge row.
The controversy stems from Kamra’s show at the Habitat Comedy Club in Mumbai’s Khar, where he performed a parody song targeting Shinde.
The act prompted a strong backlash from Shiv Sena supporters, who vandalised the club and the hotel in which it is located on Sunday night.
Kamra was booked by the Khar police on a complaint by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel for allegedly making defamatory remarks against the deputy CM.
In his petition, Kamra submitted he has been working on and touring with his latest tour titled “Naya Bharat,” over the past year.
The theme and content include a humorous yet criticial take on “Ambani’s Wedding,” Diwali’s impact–how the festival affects people, animals, and birds and Parody songs “A musical finale that adds an extra layer of humor to the show”.
On the contentious show that has kicked up the present row, Kamra submitted he performed his new stand-up comedy show “Naya Bharat” at a venue in Mumbai in February 2025 and it was uploaded on his Youtube Channel on the 23rd of that month.
On March 23, persons claiming to be political activists vandalised the alleged venue of the petitioner’s performance in Khar.
On the same day, Khar Police Station also received the information from the complainant, Andheri East MLA Patel.
“It is alleged by the complainant that during the said performance of the petitioner, he defamed the Deputy chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mr Ekhnath Shinde by making slanderous statements on his conduct. The complainant further alleged that the petitioner’s performance has damaged the reputation of their party and fostered animosity between the rival political parties.”
“It is pertinent to mention here that the disputed songs/poem narrated by the petitioner does not name anyone, leave alone the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra,” he claimed.
Kamra contended that from the date of release of this Youtube video, he has been receiving threats of physical harm and death on various social media platforms and even on his personal email and mobile phone.
“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. The Petitioner submits that he is scared for his life and liberty if he goes to Mumbai on 31.03.2025 (as summoned by Khar police),” he said.
He listed out the various statements made by Shiv Sena leaders to buttress his claim on threats.
Petitioner contended “he was innocent and wrongly and baselessly implicated in the said offences.”
He was ready to cooperate with the officers of the Respondent (police) and willing to supply them all the information and material sought by them. — With inputs from agencies
