The Bombay High Court on Tuesday granted interim protection to comedian Kunal Kamra until April 16 and issued a notice to the Mumbai police and Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel in connection with an FIR filed over his “traitor” jibe aimed at Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde.
Kamra’s plea, filed on April 5, seeks to quash the FIR on constitutional grounds, citing violations of his fundamental rights under Articles 19 and 21. His legal team argues that the satirical content in his show Naya Bharat constitutes protected speech and should not be criminalised under defamation or public mischief charges.
HC also issued notices to the Mumbai police and Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel over a plea filed by comedian Kunal Kamra seeking the quashing of an FIR lodged against him. A division bench of Justices Sarang Kotwal and S M Modak scheduled the matter for hearing on April 16.
FIR over ‘traitor’ jibe
The FIR, filed by Khar Police, accuses Kamra of calling Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde a “gaddar” (traitor) during a stand-up show, referencing Shinde’s 2022 rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray. Charges under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 353(1)(b) (public mischief) and 356(2) (defamation) have been invoked.
Despite three summons, Kamra hasn’t appeared for questioning, citing threats to his safety. His lawyer Navroz Seervai told the court Kamra, currently residing in Tamil Nadu, offered to appear via video conference. “This is not a murder case, but fallout of a comedy performance,” Seervai said.
Three other FIRs filed in Nashik Rural, Jalgaon, and Nandgaon have been consolidated under Khar Police for investigation.
Petition highlights fundamental rights
Kamra’s plea argues the FIR violates his constitutional rights, including free speech and the right to livelihood. The performance, scripted in July 2024 and staged 60 times before being uploaded in March 2025, offers political satire protected under free expression, the petition says.