Mumbai: Trouble Mounts for Kunal Kamra as Three FIRs Filed Over Satirical Act on Eknath Shinde

Mumbai, 29th March 2025: Trouble escalated for comedian Kunal Kamra on Saturday as three separate cases were registered against him at Mumbai’s Khar police station over his controversial stand-up act, which included satire directed at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

One complaint was lodged by the Mayor of Jalgaon, while a hotelier and a businessman from Nashik filed the other two, according to a news agency citing Mumbai Police.

Despite being summoned twice by Khar police for questioning, Kamra has yet to appear, the report noted.

Meanwhile, the Madras High Court on Friday granted him interim anticipatory bail in connection with multiple FIRs. Justice Sunder Mohan ruled that the bail would remain in effect until April 7, subject to certain conditions.

Kamra had moved the Madras High Court seeking transit anticipatory bail, citing numerous threats he had received following his recent satirical remarks.

Mumbai Police had summoned him for further questioning at Khar police station on March 31. This was the third notice issued in a case filed by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel. Kamra had previously failed to appear in response to the first two summons.

His latest stand-up video, shared on YouTube and Instagram, triggered outrage among Eknath Shinde’s supporters. Last Sunday, some individuals vandalized the Mumbai venue where the performance was filmed and warned that Kamra would not be allowed to “walk freely.”

During the act, Kamra commented on Maharashtra’s political scenario, referencing the splits within Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). He remarked that “one person” initiated the trend, using the term ‘gaddar’ (traitor) to describe them.

“What happened in Maharashtra’s election must be said… First, Shiv Sena split from BJP, then Shiv Sena split from itself… NCP separated from NCP… voters were given nine buttons, leaving everyone confused,” Kamra quipped.

He further hinted at a specific political leader, mentioning that they hail from Thane, before singing a modified version of a song from the movie Dil To Pagal Hai.

Responding to political leaders who issued threats against him, Kamra defended his stand, stating that being unable to tolerate jokes about influential figures does not alter his legal rights. He asserted that, to his knowledge, his statements were not unlawful.