March 28, 2025: Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has been granted interim anticipatory bail by the Madras High Court in connection with an FIR filed against him in Mumbai over his alleged remarks against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Justice Sunder Mohan, presiding over the case, issued the order on Friday, shielding Kamra from arrest until April 7. The court also issued notices to the Tamil Nadu government and Mumbai’s Khar Police Station regarding the matter.

Kamra’s lawyer, V. Suresh, argued that the comedian had been receiving death threats and threats of physical assault, particularly from members and ministers of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. He emphasized that Kamra’s comments were satirical in nature, highlighting that the comedian had also joked about a billionaire’s son and various other topics.

"The petitioner is a stand-up comedian. He made comments in a show in January, and the video was released recently. The petitioner says he is facing life threats and is unable to approach courts in Maharashtra. This court is inclined to grant him interim anticipatory bail,” the court observed.

Kamra had moved the Madras High Court on Friday morning seeking transit anticipatory bail, citing multiple FIRs lodged against him over his performance at The Habitat comedy club in Khar. His act featured a parody song, set to a tune from Dil Toh Pagal Hai, in which the word “gaddar” (traitor) was seemingly aimed at Shinde. The term has frequently been used by Shiv Sena (UBT) and its mouthpiece Saamana to describe Shinde and his faction, who split from Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership in 2022.

Following the controversy, supporters of Shinde’s Shiv Sena vandalized the comedy club and the hotel where it is located on Sunday night. Kamra was initially summoned by Mumbai police for questioning on Tuesday but requested a week’s extension. The police later directed him to appear before them on March 31.

The case has sparked a debate on the limits of satire and free speech in India, with Kamra’s supporters arguing that stand-up comedy should not be criminalized.