CHENNAI/MUMBAI: The Madras high court granted on Friday anticipatory bail to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, who moved court saying though he was born in Mumbai he had moved to Villupuram, Tamil Nadu, in 2021 to lead a quiet life.
He had filed an anticipatory bail plea here late Thursday evening saying he apprehended arrest by Mumbai police in connection with FIRs registered against him for his reported remarks against Dy CM Eknath Shinde.
Granting relief, Justice Sunder Mohan said Kamra prima facie satisfied the court as to why he was unable to approach a court in Maharashtra immediately. “This court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail till April 7,” the judge said. “He shall execute a bond to the satisfaction of the Vanur judicial magistrate’s court,” the order added.
When the plea came up for hearing, Kamra’s counsel V Suresh submitted the allegation against him was that he had made certain remarks about Eknath Shinde in a stand-up comedy show titled “Naya Bharat”. He also submitted the allegation did not warrant custodial interrogation and he was unable to seek anticipatory bail in Maharashtra. Kamra’s counsel submitted that a threat to his client’s life was made by ruling party members and ministers in Maharashtra. Kamra’s Mumbai lawyer, Ashwin Thool, logged in from the Maharashtra capital.
Though the FIR was registered in Khar, Kamra sought anticipatory bail from Madras HC as he resides within the court’s jurisdiction and feared imminent arrest at the hands of Mumbai police if he were to travel to Mumbai to seek regular anticipatory bail. “He also fears actual physical bodily harm and threats to his life and liberty in the event of his arrest by Mumbai police, a threat chillingly made in public by political party cadres,” his counsel, V Suresh, said.
“From the date of release of this YouTube video, the petitioner has been receiving threats of physical harm and death on various social media platforms, and even on his personal email and mobile. These are death threats and threats of harm to my life and the lives of my loved ones,” his petition said.
Kamra said the disputed song he narrated “does not name anyone”. “The programme reflects his signature satirical style of sharp observational humour and politically charged satire, touching on themes that resonate with contemporary India,” said his plea. Kamra relied on the SC ruling in the Priya Indoria case from Karnataka to seek transit relief, saying he was not a flight risk and would cooperate with the police investigation.
