<p>Mumbai: Nearly a fortnight into the focal point of a controversy over the ‘gaddar’ jibe against Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister and Shiv Sena chief leader Eknath Shinde, the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/bombay-high-court">Bombay High Court </a>is set to hear the petition of stand-up comedian <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/kunal-kamra">Kunal Kamra</a> on Tuesday seeking quashing of the FIR against him. </p><p>In a related development, the Madras High Court, on Monday, which had granted interim protection till 7 April, extended it by 10 days till 17 April. </p>.'What crime has the stand-up comedian committed?': Sanjay Raut defends Kunal Kamra.<p>Kamra has contended that the FIR infringes upon his Constitutional rights guaranteed under Articles - 19 (1) (a) (right to freedom of speech and expression), 19 (1) (g) (right to practice any profession and business) and 21 (right to life and personal liberty).</p><p>Kamra had performed his stand-up show Naya Bharat in Mumbai in February 2025, which was uploaded to his YouTube channel on 23 February after which the controversy broke out following which Shiv Sena workers ransacked The Habitat in The UniContinental hotel in Khar suburbs of Mumbai.</p><p>The plea, filed last Saturday, by Kamra was originally listed for hearing on 21 April. </p><p>However, Kamra’s counsel Navroz Seervai mentioned the petition before a division bench comprising Justice Sarang Kotwal and Justice S M Modak seeking urgent hearing, which was granted. </p><p>Seervai informed the court that Kamra has got interim relief from the Madras High Court till Monday, but despite that the Mumbai police keep issuing him summons to appear before them.</p><p>The Madras High Court, on 28 March, had granted interim anticipatory bail until 7 April which he executed before the District Munsif-cum-Judicial Magistrate Court in Vanur in Tamil Nadu.</p><p>Besides, Seervai also pointed out that a team of Mumbai police has already reached Puducherry. </p><p>Kamra, who hails from Mumbai, shifted his base to Puducherry a few years ago. </p><p>Besides Shinde, Kamra, in satirical video Naya Bharat, has mocked several politicians of the BJP-led NDA coalition including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. </p><p>Leaders of the Shiv Sena have said that Kamra would be welcomed in “Shiv Sena-style” in Mumbai. </p><p>The Madras High Court had granted interim anticipatory bail until 7 April which he executed before the District Munsif-cum-Judicial Magistrate Court in Vanur in Tamil Nadu.</p><p>An FIR was registered against Kamra on March 24 under Sections 353 (1) (b), 353 (2) (public mischief), and 356 (2) (defamation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, based on a complaint from Shiv Sena MLA Muraji Patel in the Saki Naka police station, which was later transferred to Khar police station in Mumbai.</p><p>“It is a matter of extreme urgency and some concern. Death threats are being given to the petitioner,” Seervai said. </p><p>Justice Kotwal suggested that Kamra could also explore seeking anticipatory bail before the jurisdictional court, referring to the Supreme Court’s decision in the Priya Indoria vs State of Karnataka case.</p><p>"We will consider this petition independently, but you also consider the other option," Justice Kotwal said.</p><p>So far, Mumbai police has summoned him thrice, however, Kamra has failed to appear before court. Besides, he has also failed to apologise. </p><p><strong>Controversial parody song </strong></p><p>The parody of Bollywood hit <em>Dil Toh Pagal Hai </em>hit song “bholi si surat, aankhon me masti” which was used by Kunal Kamra as “Thane ki rickshaw, face pe beard, eyes pe chashma... hai, haaye...ek jhalak dikhlae kabhi, Guwahati mein chhip jaye..…meri nazar se tum dekho toh gaddar nazar wo aaye…hai…haaye…” - has not gone down well among the followers of Shinde. </p><p>Kamra’s show ‘Naya Bharat’ was recorded in The Habitat in The UniContinental hotel in Khar suburbs of Mumbai. </p>
<p>Mumbai: Nearly a fortnight into the focal point of a controversy over the ‘gaddar’ jibe against Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister and Shiv Sena chief leader Eknath Shinde, the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/bombay-high-court">Bombay High Court </a>is set to hear the petition of stand-up comedian <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/kunal-kamra">Kunal Kamra</a> on Tuesday seeking quashing of the FIR against him. </p><p>In a related development, the Madras High Court, on Monday, which had granted interim protection till 7 April, extended it by 10 days till 17 April. </p>.'What crime has the stand-up comedian committed?': Sanjay Raut defends Kunal Kamra.<p>Kamra has contended that the FIR infringes upon his Constitutional rights guaranteed under Articles - 19 (1) (a) (right to freedom of speech and expression), 19 (1) (g) (right to practice any profession and business) and 21 (right to life and personal liberty).</p><p>Kamra had performed his stand-up show Naya Bharat in Mumbai in February 2025, which was uploaded to his YouTube channel on 23 February after which the controversy broke out following which Shiv Sena workers ransacked The Habitat in The UniContinental hotel in Khar suburbs of Mumbai.</p><p>The plea, filed last Saturday, by Kamra was originally listed for hearing on 21 April. </p><p>However, Kamra’s counsel Navroz Seervai mentioned the petition before a division bench comprising Justice Sarang Kotwal and Justice S M Modak seeking urgent hearing, which was granted. </p><p>Seervai informed the court that Kamra has got interim relief from the Madras High Court till Monday, but despite that the Mumbai police keep issuing him summons to appear before them.</p><p>The Madras High Court, on 28 March, had granted interim anticipatory bail until 7 April which he executed before the District Munsif-cum-Judicial Magistrate Court in Vanur in Tamil Nadu.</p><p>Besides, Seervai also pointed out that a team of Mumbai police has already reached Puducherry. </p><p>Kamra, who hails from Mumbai, shifted his base to Puducherry a few years ago. </p><p>Besides Shinde, Kamra, in satirical video Naya Bharat, has mocked several politicians of the BJP-led NDA coalition including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. </p><p>Leaders of the Shiv Sena have said that Kamra would be welcomed in “Shiv Sena-style” in Mumbai. </p><p>The Madras High Court had granted interim anticipatory bail until 7 April which he executed before the District Munsif-cum-Judicial Magistrate Court in Vanur in Tamil Nadu.</p><p>An FIR was registered against Kamra on March 24 under Sections 353 (1) (b), 353 (2) (public mischief), and 356 (2) (defamation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, based on a complaint from Shiv Sena MLA Muraji Patel in the Saki Naka police station, which was later transferred to Khar police station in Mumbai.</p><p>“It is a matter of extreme urgency and some concern. Death threats are being given to the petitioner,” Seervai said. </p><p>Justice Kotwal suggested that Kamra could also explore seeking anticipatory bail before the jurisdictional court, referring to the Supreme Court’s decision in the Priya Indoria vs State of Karnataka case.</p><p>"We will consider this petition independently, but you also consider the other option," Justice Kotwal said.</p><p>So far, Mumbai police has summoned him thrice, however, Kamra has failed to appear before court. Besides, he has also failed to apologise. </p><p><strong>Controversial parody song </strong></p><p>The parody of Bollywood hit <em>Dil Toh Pagal Hai </em>hit song “bholi si surat, aankhon me masti” which was used by Kunal Kamra as “Thane ki rickshaw, face pe beard, eyes pe chashma... hai, haaye...ek jhalak dikhlae kabhi, Guwahati mein chhip jaye..…meri nazar se tum dekho toh gaddar nazar wo aaye…hai…haaye…” - has not gone down well among the followers of Shinde. </p><p>Kamra’s show ‘Naya Bharat’ was recorded in The Habitat in The UniContinental hotel in Khar suburbs of Mumbai. </p>