Regarding the matter involving stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, the Bombay High Court has sent notice to Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel and Mumbai police.
On Tuesday, the Bombay High Court instructed the Mumbai Police and Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel to address a plea from comedian Kunal Kamra, who is seeking to dismiss an FIR filed against him. The FIR stems from Kamra’s alleged defamation of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during a stand-up comedy performance in February, where he reportedly called Shinde a “traitor.” Patel had lodged the initial complaint against Kamra.
The court has set April 16 as the date for the next hearing, directing both the police and Patel to prepare their responses to Kamra’s petition. The comedian’s case has also triggered three additional FIRs in Nashik Rural, Jalgaon, and Nashik (Nandgaon), all of which have been shifted to Khar police jurisdiction. In his plea, Kamra contends that the FIR infringes on his constitutional rights, particularly his freedom of speech and expression. He insists that his comments were part of a comedic act and should not be criminalized. Additionally, he has requested safeguards against arrest or the confiscation of his electronic devices.
Kamra’s legal team has further asked the court to permit him to provide his statement to the police via video conference, citing safety concerns due to life threats. Currently residing in Tamil Nadu, Kamra has not attended in-person questioning despite receiving three summons from Khar police. His lawyers emphasized that the incident arose from a comedy show, not a grave offense, and pointed out that a video of the performance is already accessible to investigators, rendering his physical presence unnecessary.
Separately, the Madras High Court has prolonged Kamra’s interim protection from arrest—initially granted due to death threats—until April 17. The Bombay High Court has promised to evaluate the video conferencing request at the upcoming April 16 hearing. Kamra’s interim arrest protection remains effective until April 17.
With inputs from PTI
