Kunal Kamra controversy: Comedian Kunal Kamra has moved the Madras High Court seeking transit anticipatory bail in connection with the FIR lodged against him over his comedy special “Naya Bharat”, recorded at Mumbai’s Habitat. The FIR was lodged against him after he took a veiled dig at Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde. The comedian tagged Shinde as a “traitor” and a “turncoat”
Kamra said that he is a permanent resident of Tamil Nadu, and hence, the Madras High Court has jurisdiction. An urgent mentioning of the case was made before Justice Sunder Mohan today, March 28, as per a report by Live Law.
While mentioning the case, Kamra’s counsel also informed the court that the comedian had been receiving death threats after he uploaded the show on his YouTube channel. The comedian, as per a report by NDTV citing sources, has received more than 500 threatening calls.
While Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Nirupam threatened to physically assault Kunal Kamra, MP Naresh Mhaske warned that the comedian would be “forced to flee India”, adding that party workers would pursue him wherever he goes.
The court is set to hear the matter after lunch today.
An FIR was filed against Kamra by Shiv Sena MLA Muraji Patel under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The case was later transferred to the Khar police station in Mumbai.
In his comedy special uploaded on YouTube on March 23, Kamra took a swipe at a political leader from Thane who hid in Guwahati and could be found in Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s lap. While he never explicitly named him, the hints made it clear he was referring to Eknath Shinde.
After Kamra’s dig at Shinde went viral, supporters of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction vandalised Habitat, the venue where Kamra had reportedly recorded his show in January. Twelve individuals were arrested for the attack but were later granted bail.
Supreme Court on freedom of speech and expression
“In a healthy democracy, the views or thoughts expressed by an individual or group of individuals must be countered by expressing another point of view. Even if a large number of persons dislike the views expressed by another, the right of a person to express the views must be respected and protected. Literature, including poetry, dramas, films, satire, and art, makes the life of human beings more meaningful,” said the Supreme Court on Friday.
The apex court made the observation while hearing a plea of Congress leader Imran Pratapgarhi challenging an FIR by the Gujarat police over the song “Ae khoon ke pyase, baat suno”. The court, quashing the FIR, added, “Sometimes, we the judges, may not like spoken or written words, but still it is our duty to uphold the fundamental rights under Article 19 (1).”
Kunal Kamra – Eknath Shinde parody row
He also sang a parody of Bholi Si Surat, a song from Shah Rukh Khan’s film Dil To Pagal Hai. It goes like this: “Thane ki rickshaw, chehre pe daadhi, ankhon pe chashma, haye! Thane ki rickshaw, chehre pe daadhi, ankhon pe chashma, haye! Ek jhalak dikhlaye kabhi Guwahati mein chup jaaye. Meri nazar se tum dekho, gaddar nazar wo aye. Thane ki rickshaw, chehre pe daadhi, ankhon pe chashma, haye!”
“Mantri nahi wo dalbadlu hai, aur kaha kya jaye? Jis thali me khaaye, usme hi wo ched kar jaye. Mantralay se zyada, Fadnavis ki godi me mil jaye. Teer kaman mila hai isko, baap mera yeh chahe. Thane ki rickshaw, chehre pe daadhi, ankhon pe chashma, haye!” he added.
The comedian, before singing the song, referred to the political splits in Maharashtra. “What they did in the Maharashtra elections…. Shiv Sena left BJP, then Shiv Sena left Shiv Sena. NCP left NCP. They gave one voter nine buttons. Everyone got confused. One clever man did this. He comes from a very prominent district in Mumbai – Thane.”
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said that Kamra has insulted “the mandate and ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray” and as a result legal action will be take against him.
“Freedom of expression is important, but it should not be misused. Many writers engage in satire, but what happened today was an act of immorality, licentious behaviour, and a hit job done for money,” Shinde told a Marathi news channel, adding that Kamra “spoke on behalf with someone with an agenda”.