Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai

Chennai, Mar 28: Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra was granted interim anticipatory bail by the Madras High Court on Friday, shielding him from arrest till April 7. The court’s decision follows a controversy over his latest stand-up special, ‘Naya Bharat,’ where he took jabs at Maharashtra Deputy CM and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde.

Justice Sunder Mohan passed the order with conditions after Kamra moved the court seeking transit anticipatory bail, citing fears of arrest by Mumbai Police. The comedian, who relocated from Mumbai to Tamil Nadu in 2021, claimed he is now a resident of the state.

Kamra’s video, filmed at Mumbai’s Habitat Studio, sparked outrage among Shiv Sena workers, leading to vandalism at the venue. In his performance, Kamra parodied a popular Bollywood song, referring to Shinde as a ‘gaddar’ (traitor) while also touching on Maharashtra’s political turmoil and targeting figures like PM Narendra Modi and industrialist Mukesh Ambani.

Despite the backlash and police summons, Kamra remains defiant. ‘I will not apologise,’ he posted on X, slamming both politicians and the mobs angered by his satire.

Following the uproar, an FIR was registered against Kamra for his remarks on Shinde.