The Bombay High Court on Friday granted comedian Kunal Kamra permanent protection from arrest in connection with a criminal case registered against him in Mumbai for his satirical jibes directed at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The court, however, allowed the investigation to continue.
A division bench of Justices Sarang Kotwal and SM Modak ruled that if the police intend to question Kamra, they must do so in Chennai, where he is a permanent resident, with prior notice and assistance from local authorities. The bench also directed that no trial court proceedings can commence against Kamra unless the High Court decides on his plea to quash the FIR.
The case stems from a March 23 video uploaded to Kamra’s YouTube channel, where he performed a parody song criticizing Shinde—without naming him directly—by alluding to his 2022 rebellion against then-Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, which triggered a major political upheaval in Maharashtra. In the video, Kamra referred to the political defector as a “traitor.”
Following the viral video, Shinde supporters from the Shiv Sena faction allegedly vandalized The Habitat, the Khar-based studio where the act was filmed. On March 24, Mumbai Police booked Kamra under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita’s provisions for defamation and public mischief. Though summoned thrice for questioning, Kamra has yet to appear before investigators.
Earlier, the Bombay High Court had granted Kamra interim protection from arrest on April 16, which has now been made permanent. The Madras High Court had also extended him interim protection until April 17, recognizing his residence in Tamil Nadu.
While Kamra’s legal team argues that the satire was within the bounds of free speech, the controversy continues to stir debates on the limits of political humour and freedom of expression in India.
