Madras High Court Grants Comedian Kunal Kamra Bail Until April 17
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Synopsis
The Madras High Court has granted comedian Kunal Kamra interim bail until April 17 amid accusations of defamatory remarks against Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The case raises questions surrounding free speech and political sensitivity as Kamra’s legal team prepares to seek permanent relief.
Key Takeaways
- Kunal Kamra receives interim bail until April 17.
- Accused of making defamatory remarks against Eknath Shinde.
- Multiple cases filed against him by Khar police.
- Kamra relocated to Tamil Nadu in 2021.
- Next hearing scheduled for April 17.
Chennai, April 7 (NationPress) The Madras High Court has extended interim protection from arrest to renowned stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra until April 17.
This protection is related to a case initiated by Mumbai’s Khar police, which accuses Kamra of making defamatory statements against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during his recent comedy performance titled 'Naya Bharat'.
The ruling was delivered by a bench led by Justice Sunder Mohan, following arguments from advocate V. Suresh, who represented Kamra, aided by junior counsel S. Tanvi.
The legal team informed the court that they had sent a private notice to the Khar police as per a prior directive from the court on March 28, when the initial interim anticipatory bail was granted.
The judge instructed the Registry to confirm whether the official court notification had also been issued to the Mumbai police, ensuring the case is listed on April 17 with the Khar police included in the cause list, contingent on notice service confirmation.
Advocate Suresh apprised the court that, after the approval of inter-state interim anticipatory bail, the Khar police initiated three more cases against Kamra. He further alleged that the police disturbed his elderly parents at their home in Mumbai, despite Kamra having moved to Villupuram district in Tamil Nadu in 2021.
The police also called in attendees from the 'Naya Bharat' show for interrogation.
However, the court did not venture into the substantive issues of the case.
Justice Mohan indicated that the relief provided was merely provisional, allowing Kamra the opportunity to seek regular anticipatory bail from the Bombay High Court.
When asked if any action had been taken regarding this, Kamra’s counsel confirmed that a petition had already been submitted to the Bombay High Court. Consequently, the judge extended the interim protection until the next hearing date and reiterated that the relief granted on March 28 would remain effective until April 17.
Kamra, aged 36, stated in his petition that although he was born and raised in Mumbai, he relocated to rural Tamil Nadu in February 2021 to pursue a quieter lifestyle in Villupuram district. As a traveling performer, he continues to tour various cities for his shows, including Mumbai, where he performed 'Naya Bharat' in February of this year.
The petition mentions that a video of the comedy show was uploaded to Kamra’s official YouTube channel on February 23, 2025. Following this, political activists allegedly vandalized the venue where the show took place in Mumbai's Khar.
On the same day, a local Member of the Legislative Assembly lodged a police complaint, accusing Kamra of defaming Deputy Chief Minister Shinde through derogatory remarks. Kamra’s petition argues that the controversial segment, which included songs and poems, did not explicitly name or refer to any individual, including the Deputy Chief Minister. Nonetheless, an FIR was quickly filed against him, and he was summoned for questioning on March 23.
In light of what he described as unwarranted police actions, Kamra sought inter-state anticipatory bail from the Madras High Court as a temporary safeguard while pursuing his petition for regular advance bail before the Bombay High Court.
With the next hearing set for April 17, all attention is on how the Bombay High Court will address Kamra’s request for permanent relief in a matter that intertwines free speech, satire, and political sensitivities.
