Chennai: Madras high court on Monday extended its interim protection against stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra’s arrest by Maharashtra police until April 17 in connection with cases registered against him for his remarks against Maharashtra deputy CM Eknath Shinde during a recent show.
“Interim protection granted will continue. In the meantime, the petitioner should take steps to approach the appropriate court,” Justice Sunder Mohan said. On March 28, the court had granted interim anticipatory bail to Kamra till April 7, after he approached the court saying he had moved his residence to Villupuram in Tamil Nadu in Feb 2021.
When the plea came up for hearing on Monday, counsel for the petitioner, V Suresh, submitted that proof of serving private notice to Mumbai police was filed. “Three more FIRs have been registered. The hostility towards the petitioner is still continuing. They (Mumbai police) have gone to his house and disturbed his aged parents. Even people who attended the show were summoned,” Suresh said. Recording the submissions, the judge directed the registry to verify if private notice was served to Mumbai police. The court also directed the registry to print the name of Mumbai police in the cause list.
The petitioner said the allegation against him was that he made certain remarks in a stand-up comedy show titled ‘Naya Bharat’ about the deputy chief minister. He further submitted that the allegation does not warrant custodial interrogation and that he was unable to seek anticipatory bail in Maharashtra. Suresh submitted that a life threat was made against him by partymen and the ministers.
Although the FIR was registered in Khar, Mumbai, the petitioner is seeking anticipatory bail from this court as he resides within the jurisdiction of the court and fears imminent arrest at the hands of Mumbai police if he were to travel to Mumbai and seek regular anticipatory bail.