Joke row: Kunal Kamra moves Bombay HC seeking to quash FIR over 'traitor' jibe at Eknath Shinde; plea to be heard on April 8

NEW DELHI: Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has approached the Bombay high court seeking to quash an FIR filed against him.
The case is related to his remarks referring to Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde as a 'traitor' during a recent performance.
The remark sparked a row after the stand-up show went live, leading Shiv Sena workers to vandalise Mumbai’s Habitat Studio, where Kamra had performed the set.
Kamra filed a quashing petition before the Bombay HC against the FIR registered at Khar police station over his show. Senior counsel Navroz Seervai is expected to mention the matter for urgent hearing and seek interim relief against any coercive action by the police.
The petition, filed through advocate Meenaz Kakalia, is likely to be heard by a bench headed by Justice Sarang Kotwal on Tuesday.
His plea claims the complaints against him violate his fundamental rights to freedom of speech and expression, the right to practise any profession or trade, and the right to life and liberty guaranteed under the Constitution of India.
Last month, Kamra was granted interim transit anticipatory bail by the Madras high court in connection with the case. He is a permanent resident of Tamil Nadu. The comedian has not responded to three summons issued by the Mumbai police for questioning.
During a performance, Kamra had taunted Shinde—without naming him—by using a modified version of a Hindi song from the film Dil To Pagal Hai, in which he referred to him as a "gaddar" (traitor). He also joked about Shinde's rebellion against former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.
Following a complaint by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel, Mumbai police registered the FIR under sections 353(1)(b) (statements conducing to public mischief) and 356(2) (defamation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.