Mumbai, April 7, 2025 — Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has approached the Bombay High Court seeking to quash a First Information Report (FIR) filed against him in connection with remarks made during a recent performance, in which he referred to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as a “traitor.”
The controversial comment, delivered as part of a comedy set at Mumbai's Habitat Studio, drew sharp backlash from members of the Shiv Sena. In the aftermath of the show's online release, party workers allegedly vandalised the venue, escalating tensions around the incident.
Kamra has filed a petition through advocate Meenaz Kakalia challenging the FIR, which was registered at the Khar Police Station. The petition asserts that the action against the comedian infringes on his constitutionally protected rights, including the freedom of speech and expression, the right to practise any profession, and the right to life and personal liberty under the Constitution of India.
Senior counsel Navroz Seervai is expected to mention the matter for urgent listing before a bench headed by Justice Sarang Kotwal. The hearing is anticipated to take place on April 21, during which interim relief against coercive action by the police is likely to be sought.
The FIR against Kamra was filed following a complaint by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel. Mumbai Police invoked Sections 353(1)(b) (statements conducing to public mischief) and 356(2) (defamation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
During his performance, Kamra had indirectly referred to Shinde by modifying lyrics from a popular Hindi film song, labeling him a "gaddar" (traitor), while also referencing Shinde's defection from the Shiv Sena faction led by former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
Last month, the Madras High Court granted Kamra interim transit anticipatory bail in connection with the case. Kamra, a permanent resident of Tamil Nadu, has so far not responded to three summons issued by the Mumbai Police for questioning.
The case has reignited debates over the boundaries of artistic freedom and political satire, particularly in the context of India’s evolving legal landscape under the newly implemented Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
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