Bombay High Court Shields Comedian Kunal Kamra from Arrest in Defamation Case

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court has accepted a petition from stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, who is seeking to dismiss a First Information Report (FIR) filed against him for allegedly defaming Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The court, presided over by Justices Sarang Kotwal and S.M. Modak, issued an interim order on April 25, 2025, preventing the Mumbai Police from arresting Kamra while his petition is under consideration.

The FIR, lodged at Khar police station, stems from Kamra’s performance on February 2, 2025, at The Habitat studio in Mumbai. During the show, Kamra performed a parody of a song from the film Dil To Pagal Hai, incorporating the term “gaddar” (traitor) while joking about Shinde’s 2022 rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray, which led to a split in the Shiv Sena. Kamra’s petition argues that the allegations, even if taken at face value, do not constitute a criminal offense, and he has requested protection from coercive actions, including arrest, seizure of electronic devices, and scrutiny of his financial records.

The court permitted the Mumbai Police to continue their investigation but stipulated that any statement from Kamra must be recorded in Chennai, where he currently resides, with prior notice. Kamra, who has received death threats since the controversy erupted, expressed apprehension about traveling to Maharashtra, according to his plea. The bench further directed that if a chargesheet is filed during the petition’s pendency, the relevant court should not proceed with the case.

Last week, the Bombay High Court had already granted Kamra temporary protection from arrest while reserving its order on the plea. The court’s latest ruling ensures that the 36-year-old comedian remains shielded from arrest until a final decision is reached on his petition to quash the FIR. The case has drawn attention due to its implications for freedom of speech, with Kamra’s legal team arguing that his comedic remarks fall within the bounds of protected expression.