Kunal Kamra says his parents are being disturbed; Madras High Court extends interim protection

The Madras High Court on Monday extended till April 17 the interim protection from arrest earlier granted to stand-up comic Kunal Kamra in connection with a criminal case registered against him for allegedly insulting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde through a parody song..The stand-up comic had approached the High Court recently for transit anticipatory bail, claiming that he was unable to approach the authorities in Mumbai as he was facing threats to his life from Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) party workers.On March 28, Justice Sunder Mohan granted him interim anticipatory bail till April 7 (today)..Today, the judge asked if notice was served to the jurisdictional police in Mumbai. Kamra's counsel, Advocate V Suresh, assured that notice has been served. Suresh added that the hostility against Kamra over his comments has continued and that three more first information reports (FIRs) have been filed against him since the last hearing. He added that even Kamra's parents have not been spared."They have gone to his house and disturbed his aged parents. They have taken names of people who attended show and sought details already available (online)," Kamra's counsel argued. The judge eventually decided to adjourn the matter till April 17 and sought confirmation that notice has been served on the jurisdictional police in Mumbai. The Registry was asked to reflect this aspect in the cause list..In a recent stand-up show titled Naya Bharat, Kamra had sung a parody song indirectly referring to Shinde as a 'gaddar' (traitor). The reference alluded 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. Kamra, who resides in Tamil Nadu, approached the Madras High Court seeking transit anticipatory bail. Transit anticipatory bail refers to the grant of pre-arrest bail in the home state of a person, when an FIR is lodged in some other state.His counsel contended that the standup comedian had not specifically named anyone in his show, adding that satire and parody are part of free speech. He further contended that he had received threats from political workers and even a Minister. "They say they will 'teach them in Shiv Sena style'. What is 'Shiv Sena style' is common knowledge," Advocate Suresh said. The Court, in response, granted him interim protection after noting that Kamra had made out a prima facie case that he was unable to approach courts in Maharashtra for protection.In the meanwhile, Kamra has now also approached the Bombay High Court to quash the FIR against him. The matter will be heard tomorrow..Bombay High Court allows urgent hearing in plea by Kunal Kamra to quash FIR.[Read Live Coverage]