Bombay High Court allows urgent hearing in plea by Kunal Kamra to quash FIR

The Bombay High Court on Monday agreed to hear stand up comic Kunal Kamra’s petition seeking quashing of the first information report (FIR) registered against him over his ‘gaddar’ (traitor) remark allegedly directed at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde..A Bench of Justice Sarang Kotwal and Justice SM Modak posted Kamra’s petition for hearing on April 8, Tuesday after Senior Advocate Navroz Seervai mentioned the matter on behalf of Kamra citing “extreme urgency” in view of death threats issued to the comedian.The plea was originally listed for hearing on April 21. ."It is a matter of extreme urgency and some concern… really going through the fundamental rights and not so much criminal law," Seervai submitted, while seeking urgent listing of the matter.During the mentioning, Seervai told the bench that the Madras High Court had granted Kamra interim protection from coercive action but that protection is valid only till today."There are death threats being given to the petitioner. The Madras High Court has taken cognisance of the threats and immediately granted interim protection till today," Seervai said.He said that the Mumbai police have reached Pondicherry."We have filed the petition on Saturday. The situation is very grave. There are reports that the police has already reached Pondicherry (where Kamra is currently staying)," he added.Justice Kotwal then suggested that Kamra could also explore seeking anticipatory bail before the jurisdictional court, referring to the Supreme Court’s decision in the Priya Indoria case."We will consider this petition independently, but you also consider the other route," Justice Kotwal remarked.Seervai agreed to explore that option but pressed for urgent hearing of the quashing petition in light of the threats.While the bench declined the request to take up the matter post-lunch on Monday, it agreed to list the petition for hearing on Tuesday..The case was triggered after Kamra allegedly called Shinde a ‘gaddar’ during a stand-up performance — a reference to Shinde’s 2022 rebellion against the Shiv Sena leadership.The reference was allude to Shinde's decision to quit the once-united Shiv Sena party led by Uddhav Thackeray and join hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).Shinde's action had led to a split in the Shiv Sena, with the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena eventually rising to power in the State, through a coalition with the BJP.Kamra was booked for offences under Sections 353(1)(b), 353(2) (public mischief) and 356(2) (defamation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on a complaint filed by Shiv Sena legislator Muraji Patel.The FIR against Kamra was lodged in Mumbai though Kamra is a resident of Villuparam in Tamil Nadu.The Madras High Court granted anticipatory bail to him on March 28. The same expires today..Kunal Kamra moves Bombay High Court to quash FIR over 'Gaddar' comment .[Read Live Coverage]