Comedian defends his right to free speech after facing backlash and FIRs over parody targeting Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde
Chennai, April 7: The Madras High Court on Monday extended interim protection from arrest to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra until April 17, in a case related to multiple FIRs filed against him over a satirical parody song allegedly mocking Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Kamra had approached the High Court last month seeking transit anticipatory bail, claiming that his remarks during a performance at Mumbai’s Habitat Studio had triggered threats and backlash. The parody in question was a humorous take on the classic Bollywood song “Bholi Si Surat”, which drew the ire of Shinde’s supporters, leading to an FIR and vandalism at the comedy venue by Yuva Sena, the youth wing of Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction.
In a strongly worded public statement, Kamra refused to apologise and defended his actions under freedom of expression.
“An entertainment venue is merely a platform. Habitat or any other venue is not responsible for my comedy. Attacking a venue for a comedian’s words is as senseless as overturning a lorry carrying tomatoes because you didn’t like the butter chicken you were served,” he remarked.
Kamra also issued a pointed response to political leaders who have “threatened to teach him a lesson.”
“Our right to freedom of speech is not just for praising the powerful. Your inability to take a joke at the expense of a public figure does not change my right. As far as I know, it’s not against the law to poke fun at our leaders,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court will hear Kamra’s petition to quash the FIR lodged against him by the Mumbai Police. Filed on April 5, the petition argues that the FIR infringes on his fundamental rights under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution — the right to freedom of speech and the right to life and liberty.
A division bench of Justice SV Kotwal and Justice SM Modak will preside over the hearing on Tuesday.
Kamra’s legal team has maintained that his performance, part of his ongoing stand-up show ‘Naya Bharat’, falls under constitutionally protected satire and does not merit criminal prosecution.
As the case continues to draw national attention, it has reignited debates around freedom of expression, political satire, and the increasing intolerance toward dissent in comedy and art in India.