Mumbai Apr 8 (UNI) Bombay High Court on Tuesday granted protection (not to arrest or any corrective action) till April 17 to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, currently facing backlash for his controversial comments about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
During the hearing of a plea moved by Kamara seeking quashing of multiple FIRs against him following his satirical video and "gaddar" comment purportedly made against Shinde, the division bench of Justice Sarang Kotwal and Justice Shriram Modak directed the state government to file a reply to the petition.
In his plea Kamra sought a stay on the proceedings arising out of the said FIR.
The court was informed that Madras High Court has extended interim protection from arrest to Kamra till April 17.
The next hearing is on April 16.
Senior advocate Navroz Seervai who appeared on behalf of Kamra told the court that Madras HC order has not been uploaded. However, his client was granted interim protection till April 17.
He also said he is really concerned about the quashing and if court is inclined to grant some time, only one thing, his client has not once, twice or thrice but in writing offered to get a statement recorded virtually through video conferencing.
"The court must consider the death threats received by my client. The authorities aren't keen to record his statements but they want him here to be present physically. His physical presence must not be insisted till the present petition is heard," Seervai argued.
In the 146-page petition Kamra challenged the legality, correctness, and propriety of FIR registered at Khar Police Station on March 24, 2025, under sections 353(1)(B), 353(2) and 356(2) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) by Shiv Sena MLA Muraji Patel.
The FIR was later transferred to Khar police station in Mumbai.
Though Kamra had not directly taken Shinde's name, the party workers alleged that he had called Shinde a traitor while referencing to his split from the Shiv Sena.
Offended by Kamra's remarks, a group of Shiv Sena workers had also vandalised Mumbai's Habitat studio, where the comedian had performed the show. Twelve people were arrested in connection with the violence that had erupted and were subsequently granted bail.
Kamra claimed he has been receiving death threats since the show.
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