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Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra received major relief from the Bombay High Court on Friday, as it granted him protection from arrest concerning an FIR filed against him over a satirical video and his controversial ‘gaddar’ (traitor) comment aimed at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The court directed Mumbai Police to refrain from taking any coercive measures against Kamra, who is presently residing in Chennai.
The FIR was lodged after a video circulated in which Kamra allegedly mocked Shinde, calling him a ‘gaddar’, a remark that sparked outrage among supporters of the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction).
Although the court prohibited any immediate arrest, it allowed the investigation to proceed.
The court has allowed the Mumbai Police to travel to Chennai, where they will cooperate with local police to question Kamra.
The court also directed the trial court to pause proceedings if the police file a charge sheet until the Bombay High Court rules on Kamra’s petition to quash the FIR.
Earlier, Kamra had sought the High Court’s intervention to quash the FIR against him.
Interim Bail Made Permanent
The High Court had previously granted him interim bail on 16 April, now made permanent.
Shiv Sena legislator Muraji Patel filed the FIR at Khar Police Station following a complaint.
This was in response to a remark Kamra allegedly made during his ‘Naya Bharat’ stand-up show, in which he referred to Shinde as a ‘gaddar’.
The Madras High Court initially granted Kamra anticipatory bail before he approached the Bombay High Court to seek regular bail and the quashing of the FIR.
The controversial comment referred to Shinde’s political defection from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena to form a new alliance with the BJP, which ultimately led to a dramatic split in the party and the formation of the new MahaYuti ruling coalition.
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