Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has approached the Bombay High Court seeking to quash an FIR filed against him for allegedly referring to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as a “traitor” during a live performance. Kamra submitted his petition on April 5, contending that the complaint violates his constitutional rights to freedom of speech, profession, and liberty.
The plea, filed through advocate Meenaz Kakalia, is expected to be heard on April 8 by a bench headed by Justice Sarang Kotwal.
The case originates from a show in which Kamra allegedly mocked Shinde—without naming him—by altering a song from the film Dil To Pagal Hai and calling him a “gaddar” (traitor), while commenting on Shinde’s rebellion against former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
The FIR was registered by Mumbai Police following a complaint by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel, invoking sections 353(1)(b) (statements conducing to public mischief) and 356(2) (defamation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Kamra, who is a permanent resident of Tamil Nadu, had earlier secured interim transit anticipatory bail from the Madras High Court in connection with the case. However, he has yet to appear before Mumbai Police despite receiving three summons.
