Comedian Kunal Kamra, who found himself in legal trouble over a joke about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, approached the Madras High Court on Tuesday seeking transit anticipatory bail.
The court granted him pre-arrest bail until April 7, 2025, which means he has interim protection from arrest.
Transit anticipatory bail allows an individual to seek protection from arrest in their current jurisdiction, even if the case is filed outside their home state. Kamra had been facing a case filed by Mumbai’s Khar Police due to his comments on Shinde.
Kamra’s lawyer argued that Kamra did not directly target any individual and that there was no hidden agenda behind his remarks. The lawyer further claimed that the police were trying to arrest him.
Also read: Kunal Kamra mocks Mumbai Police over wrong address visit
During the hearing, Justice Sundar Mohan of the Madras High Court directed Kamra to approach the Vanur court to secure bail. The case was adjourned until April 7, when Kamra will need to appear before the court for further proceedings. The judge granted him bail and also ordered Kamra to be present in the High Court on that date to discuss his bail conditions further.
The issue began after Kamra made a joke on March 23 during a stand-up comedy performance at the Habitat Comedy Club in Mumbai’s Khar area. He parodied a song from the 1997 film Dil Toh Pagal Hai, indirectly targeting Shinde by referring to him as a “gaddar” (traitor). This led to a backlash, including Shiv Sena workers vandalising the venue. Following the incident, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation began demolishing parts of the Habitat studio.
In response to the police’s actions, Kamra criticised the visit of Mumbai Police officers to his residence, calling it a "waste of time and public resources," as he had not lived in Mumbai for years. Kamra later told police he would cooperate with the investigation but refused to apologise for his remarks.
In a detailed statement, Kamra defended his actions, asserting that it was not illegal to make fun of public figures. He stated, “Your inability to take a joke at the expense of a powerful public figure does not change the nature of my right.”
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