Mounting Legal Trouble for Kunal Kamra: Three Fresh Complaints Filed Against Him Over Joke on Eknath Shinde

Comedian Kunal Kamra faces mounting legal trouble as three separate complaints were filed against him at Khar police station in west Mumbai on Saturday. The complaints stem from his recent stand-up comedy set, that allegedly included jokes about Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde. One of the complaints was lodged by the Mayor of Jalgaon city, while the other two came from a hotelier and a businessman from Nashik, said the Mumbai Police.

Earlier, the Madras High Court granted Kunal Kamra interim anticipatory bail on Friday, providing him with temporary protection from arrest in connection with multiple FIRs filed against him. Justice Sunder Mohan ordered that Kamra’s bail be in effect until April 7, with certain conditions attached. The comedian had approached the court seeking transit anticipatory bail, citing threats he had received following his satirical comments.

The comedian had been called to appear before the Mumbai police on March 31 for further questioning related to a case filed by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel. This marked the third summons issued to him, but he failed to comply with the first two requests.

Kamra’s latest stand-up routine, uploaded on his YouTube and Instagram handles, sparked outrage, particularly from supporters of Eknath Shinde. The comedian allegedly mocked the recent political upheavals in Maharashtra, referring to the breakaway factions of the Shiv Sena. He used the term “gaddar” (traitor) allegedly to describe Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

His remarks led to protests outside the venue where the show was filmed, with members of Shinde’s youth wing, Yuva Sena, vandalising the comedy venue. Kamra has refused to apologise for his comments but has stated he will cooperate with the police in their investigation.

In an official statement, Kamra addressed the political leaders threatening him with action, saying: "The inability to take a joke at the expense of a powerful public figure does not change the nature of my right. Our right to freedom of speech and expression is not only to be used to fawn over the powerful and rich, even though today’s media would have us believe otherwise."

He further emphasised that poking fun at public figures is not against the law, stating, "As far as I know, it is not against the law to poke fun at our leaders and the circus that is our political system."

The comedian also responded to the ongoing backlash, calling the attacks on entertainment venues equally nonsensical. "An entertainment venue is merely a platform. A space for all sorts of shows. Habitat (or any other venue) is not responsible for my comedy, nor does it have any power or control over what I say or do. Neither does any political party. 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.​