On Friday, the Madras High Court granted pre-arrest bail until April 7 to comedian Kunal Kamra regarding a case filed against him in Mumbai for his contentious comments about Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde. The ruling was issued after Justice Sunder Mohan observed that Kamra could not reach the courts in Maharashtra regarding the alleged threats he faced.
“The petitioner (Kunal Kamra) has submitted newspaper articles (regarding threats made against him for his comments)… interim anticipatory bail was granted with the condition that he must sign a bond before a judicial magistrate,” stated the court.
The directive was issued following Kamra’s lawyer asserting that the comedian received close to 500 menacing calls after he, without naming Shinde, labeled him as “gaddar” (traitor) during a stand-up act at the Habitat Comedy Club in Khar, Mumbai.
The jab pointed to Shinde’s 2022 revolt, which resulted in a division within the Shiv Sena and the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray administration.
The comment incited anger among Shinde’s Shiv Sena workers, who defaced the studio and a hotel where the club is situated.
ALSO READ: Israel carries out first strike on Beirut since ceasefire
“Real threats are being given… Ruling party ministers are on record… more than 500 people. They said they would ‘teach him in Shiv Sena style’. What is ‘Shiv Sena style’ is common knowledge,” Kamra’s counsel said.
Kamra’s lawyer argued that satire is safeguarded under free speech, and the comedian did not mention any names during his performance, which was recorded in January. The video came out the previous week.
“The Supreme Court has said satire, parody is part of accepted speech,” he said.
Earlier today, the Supreme Court stated that freedom of expression constitutes an “essential element” of a thriving civilized society, and that art and satire “enhance life.” The court’s comments were made as it revoked an FIR against Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi concerning a poem he posted on social media.
