NEW DELHI: Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra approached the Bombay High Court seeking to quash the FIR filed against him over his indirect reference to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as a ‘traitor’ during a recent performance.
Kamra moved the high court on Saturday. The remark led to a controversy, with Shiv Sena workers vandalising Mumbai’s Habitat Studio, where Kamra had performed the set.
Kamra filed a quashing petition before the Bombay HC against the FIR registered at Khar police station over his show. Senior counsel Navroz Seervai is expected to mention the matter for urgent hearing and seek interim relief against any coercive action by the police.
His plea claims the complaints against him violate his fundamental rights to freedom of speech and expression, the right to practise any profession or trade, and the right to life and liberty guaranteed under the Constitution of India.
The petition, filed through advocate Meenaz Kakalia, is likely to be heard by a bench headed by Justice Sarang Kotwal on April 21.
Last month, Kamra was granted interim transit anticipatory bail by the Madras high court in connection with the case. He is a permanent resident of Tamil Nadu. The comedian has not responded to three summons issued by the Mumbai police for questioning.
During a performance, Kamra had taunted Shinde—without naming him—by using a modified version of a Hindi song from the film Dil To Pagal Hai, in which he referred to him as a “gaddar” (traitor). He also joked about Shinde’s rebellion against former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.
Following a complaint by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel, Mumbai police registered the FIR under sections 353(1)(b) (statements conducing to public mischief) and 356(2) (defamation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
