Satire Video Row: Madras High Court Extends Interim Protection Granted To Kunal Kamra In Mumbai Police FIR Till April 17

The Madras High Court today extended the interim protection granted to Kunal Kamra in connection with the FIR lodged against him at Mumbai over his alleged remarks against Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, till April 17.

Justice Sunder Mohan ordered Kamra to meanwhile take steps to approach the concerned courts. The bench also took note of petitioner's submission that a petition has been filed in the Bombay High Court to quash the FIRs registered against Kamra and that the same is coming up for hearing tomorrow. 

When the matter was heard today, Advocate Suresh, appearing for Kamra informed the court that three new FIRs had been filed against Kamra in Maharashtra. He further submitted that the hostility towards Kamra still continued as the authorities had visited his parental home in Bombay and even disturbed his aged parents. Suresh also informed the court that the people who had attended Kamra's event were even summoned by the police. 

Suresh informed the court that as per the court's previous direction, a private notice had been issued to the Khar Police Station. The judge asked the registry to verify the details and add the Khar Police as respondents in the cause list. The court then adjourned the case to April 17th, while extending the interim protection granted to Kamra.

On March 28, the court had granted interim anticipatory bail to Kamra till April 7th. Meanwhile, Kamra has approached the Bombay High Court to quash the FIR registered against him by the Maharashtra Police. An urgent mention was made before the division bench headed by Justice Sarang Kotwal today, who agreed to hear the case tomorrow (8th April 2025). 

Kamra had approached the Madras High Court since he is a permanent resident of Villupuram town in Tamilnadu. The Fir against him under Sections 353(1)(b), 353(2) [Public mischief] and 356(2) [Defamation] BNS is lodged at Khar police station in Mumbai.

Though Kamra had not directly taken the Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's name, the party workers allege that he had called Shinde a traitor while referencing to his split from the Shiv Sena.

Offended by Kamra's remarks, a group of Shiv Sena workers had also vandalised Mumbai's Habitat studio, where the comedian had performed the show. Twelve people were arrested in connection with the violence that had erupted and were subsequently granted bail.

Case Title: Kunal Kamra v. State

Case No: Crl.O.P.No.9768 of 2025