The Bombay High court on Wednesday granted interim protection from arrest to stand-up comic Kunal Kamra in the case linked to his remarks against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, LiveLaw reported.
The court was hearing Kamra’s plea against the FIR filed by Maharashtra police based on a complaint by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel. The court has reserved the matter for further orders.
This comes days after the Madras High Court extended Kamra’s anticipatory bail in the same case until April 17.
During his performance in Mumbai’s Habitat Comedy Club, Kamra had performed a parody song that alluded to the 2022 rebellion within the undivided Shiv Sena.
After Kamra’s performance went viral, Shiv Sena workers allegedly vandalised the venue. Read all about the violence here. A total of five FIRs have been filed over the incident so far – four against Kamra, another against Shiv Sena workers.
In his plea to the Bombay High Court, filed on April 5, Kamra had argued that the FIR against him violated his fundamental rights including the right to freedom of speech.
On March 28, Kamra had approached the Madras High Court seeking a transit anticipatory bail since he is a Tamil Nadu resident. Kamra claimed that he was unable to approach courts in Maharashtra due to threats of physical violence.
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