CHENNAI: Madras high court has granted anticipatory bail to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, who moved the court saying though he was born in Mumbai he moved to Villupuram in Tamil Nadu in 2021 to lead a quiet life.
Late on Thursday evening, he filed an anticipatory bail here saying he apprehended arrest by Mumbai police in connection with FIRs registered against him for his reported remarks against the Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde.
Granting the relief on Friday, Justice Sunder Mohan said Kara prima facie satisfied the court as to why he was unable to approach a court in Maharashtra immediately. “This court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail till April 7,” the judge said. He shall execute a bond to the satisfaction of Vanur judicial magistrate court,” the order added.
When the plea came up for hearing on Friday, Kamra’s counsel submitted that the allegation against him was that he had made certain remarks in a stand-up comedy show titled ‘Naya Bharat‘ on Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde.
He further submitted that the allegation does not warrant custodial interrogation and that he was unable to seek anticipatory bail in Maharashtra. Counsel for the petitioner submitted that a life threat was made against him by the ruling partymen and ministers in Maharashtra.
Although the FIR was registered in Khar, Mumbai, Maharashtra, Kamra sought anticipatory bail from Madras high court as he resides within the jurisdiction of the court and feared imminent arrest at the hands of Mumbai police if he were to travel to Mumbai and seek regular anticipatory bail.
“He also fears actual physical bodily harm and threats to his life and personal liberty in the event of his arrest by Mumbai police, a threat which was chillingly made in public by political party cadres,” his counsel V Suresh said.
He added that Kamra performed his new stand-up comedy show ‘Naya Bharat’ at a venue in Mumbai. The event was in Feb and it was uploaded on his YouTube channel on Feb 23. On the same night, persons claiming to be political activists vandalised the venue of the event in Khar.
Justifying his decision to move the Madras high court, Kamra said the first three weeks of April will have numerous holidays as per the calendar of the Bombay high court, which restricts the time period for Kamra to reach the appropriate court for an appropriate remedy in Mumbai.