Madras High Court grants interim bail to Kunal Kamra in defamation case
It was reported that Kunal performed a standup comedy ‘Naya Bharat’ show at Mumbai, which was published on February 23 in his YouTube channel.;
Kunal Kamra; Madras HC
CHENNAI: The Madras High Court granted interim anticipatory bail to the popular stand-up comedian and satirist Kunal Kamra who has been booked for alleged defamatory remarks against deputy chief minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde. The high court also issued notice to the Mumbai police.
On Friday, Justice Sunder Mohan heard the inter-state anticipatory bail moved by the comedian, seeking advance bail citing he is unable to go Mumbai to face the case since he is apprehending arrest.
The judge granted him interim relief until April 7, allowing him to approach the judicial court in Mumbai to quash the case. The judge also directed Kamra to appear before the judicial magistrate Vanur, Villupuram, and execute a bond with two sureties.
Since the Khar (Mumbai) police investigating the case has not been made party in the advance bail, the judge issued notice to them.
Mumbai-born Kamra approached the Madras HC as he has been living in Villipuram since 2021.
Kamra’s counsel V Suresh submitted that since his client is a stand-up comedian, he performed a show by making parody of various persons and no one was named. But the followers of Eknath Shinde and Shiv Sena cadres continuously threatened him. He has received 500 death threat calls, the advocate said.
He also placed news articles, which carried the alleged death threats and submitted that even some ministers threatened him publicly, he added and sought the advance bail.
On March 23, Murji Kazi Patel, Andheri East MLA, lodged a complaint against Kamra, alleging his Mumbai show ‘Naya Bharat’, damaged the reputation of their party. The Khar police booked him under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.