A Delhi court recently issued a notice to comedian Kunal Kamra on a plea filed by a Shiv Sena leader seeking an FIR against Kamra for comments mocking Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Vandana of the Rohini Court passed the order on January 20, 2026. “Let notice be issued to the respondent on filing of PF/RC,” the Court ordered. The case will be heard again on March 20. ASJ Vandana passed the order while hearing a criminal revision petition filed by Shiv Sena’s Delhi chief, Sandeep Chaudhary, against a magistrate’s order refusing to direct the police to lodge an FIR against Kamra.
According to Chaudhary's plea, Kamra made a satirical video titled ‘Naya Bharat’ in which he used derogatory language against Shinde and sought to promote ill-will between political groups. He objected to the use of words and phrases, ‘gaddar (traitor)’, ‘dalbadlu (turncoat)’, and ‘Fadnavis ki godi (Fadnavis’ lap)’.
In his order of September 15, 2025, Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Himanshu Sehloth had rejected the plea filed under Section 175 (3) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). He said Kamra employed satire and political parody to comment on alleged defections and realignments within the Shiv Sena. Judge Sehloth added that while the language used may be offensive or distasteful to some, it did not amount to a cognisable offence.
“This Court is not blind to the discomfort satire can cause. It may sting; sometimes it may cross lines of taste or decorum. But the remedy for bad speech is not the policeman’s knock; it is better speech, sharper rebuttal, stronger argument. Leaders who command public power must cultivate a thicker skin, for they govern not a court of praise but a society of free citizens,” Judge Sehloth said.
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