Kunal Kamra gets interim anticipatory bail in satire video row
What's the story
Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra was granted interim anticipatory bail by the Madras High Court on Friday.
The decision came after an FIR was lodged against him in Mumbai for making alleged derogatory remarks against Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde.
A resident of Tamil Nadu, Kamra approached the Madras HC, claiming jurisdiction due to his residency.
Kamra claimed that he has been receiving multiple death threats after his stand-up video Naya Bharat was released.
Legal proceedings
Kamra's plea for bail and the court's response
Kamra's counsel, V Suresh, highlighted the threats and sought urgent relief.
Justice Sunder Mohan was satisfied that Kamra couldn't seek protection from courts in Maharashtra and hence granted the interim anticipatory bail.
The comedian was directed to execute the bail bond before the jurisdictional Magistrate.
The Zero FIR against Kamra was lodged under Sections 353(1)(b), 353(2) [Public mischief], and 356(2) [Defamation] of the BNS by Shiv Sena MLA Muraji Patel, subsequently transferred to the Khar police station.
Incident details
Controversy surrounding Kamra's remarks and subsequent vandalism
The controversy began after Kamra's stand-up act, wherein he performed a parody of the song Bholi Si Surat, went viral.
During the performance, Kamra allegedly called Shinde a "gaddar" (traitor)—a nod to his 2022 rebellion against former CM Uddhav Thackeray.
Subsequently, a group of Shiv Sena workers vandalized Mumbai's Habitat studio, where Kamra had performed.
Twelve persons were subsequently arrested in connection with the incident but were later released on bail.