Joke row: Stand-up comic Kunal Kamra granted anticipatory interim bail by Madras HC over 'gaddar' jibe

NEW DELHI:

Stand-up comedian

Kunal Kamra was granted interim

anticipatory bail

till April 7 by the Madras high court on Friday after a controversy erupted over his latest video, which took aim at Maharashtra deputy CM and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde.
Earlier, Kamra moved the Madras HC seeking transit anticipatory bail, citing concerns over potential arrest by Mumbai Police. The comedian stated that he had moved from Mumbai to Tamil Nadu in 2021 and has been "ordinarily a resident of this State since then".
Kamra, 36, has been summoned twice by Mumbai Police after his remarks.
The stand-up special, titled

Naya Bharat

, was filmed at Mumbai’s Habitat Studio and released on Sunday. The video sparked outrage among Shiv Sena workers, leading to vandalism at the venue and threats against Kamra.

In the performance, Kamra parodied a popular song from

Dil Toh Pagal Hai

, referring to Shinde as a "gaddar" (traitor). His sharp

political satire

also touched on Maharashtra’s recent political upheaval, including rifts within the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Other figures he targeted included Prime Minister Narendra Modi and businessman Mukesh Ambani.
Despite mounting backlash, Kamra refused to back down. "I will not apologise," he posted on X, criticising both the "mob and politicians" angered by his jokes.

Later that evening, an FIR was lodged against him over the video, citing his remarks on Eknath Shinde.