In a recent hearing, the Madras High Court granted an extension to the interim anticipatory bail of stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, extending it until April 17. The bail pertains to an FIR filed in Mumbai, where Kamra is accused of making disparaging remarks about Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde.
The extension follows recent developments where Kamra’s legal representative highlighted the filing of three additional FIRs against him in Maharashtra. The court was also informed of the alleged hostile actions taken against Kamra, including the harassment of his elderly parents.
Initially, the Madras High Court had provided Kamra with anticipatory bail on March 28, which was set to expire on April 7. This judicial relief came after Kamra sought legal remedies for an FIR lodged by Maharashtra police, aiming to quash it. His petition will also be heard by a division bench led by Justice Sarang Kotwal at the Bombay High Court on April 8.
The controversy centers around a performance in Mumbai, where Kamra presented a parody song that allegedly targeted Deputy CM Eknath Shinde. The lyrics of the song branded Shinde as a “traitor” and commented sarcastically on his involvement in the bifurcation of the Shiv Sena party, leading to a significant political split. This incident has fueled the series of legal challenges and public debates surrounding the limits of artistic expression and political dissent in India.
