The legal tussles faced by standup comedian Kunal Kamra against the authorities of Maharashtra worsened as he failed to appear before Mumbai Police for the third time on April 5, thereby deepening a controversy stemming from satirical remarks made at the expense of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Multiple FIRs attacking Kamra with state authority, police summons coming in after protests where venues were vandalized, and now the matter has taken a courtroom battle.
The Controversy’s Origins
A video from February 2024 show Naya Bharat gained notoriety in March 2025, putting Kamra in trouble. During the performance in Mumbai at the Habitat Studio, Kamra sang a parody of the Bollywood number Bholi Si Surat with replaced lyrics calling Shinde a gaddar, betraying reference to Shinde’s 2022 rebellion that led to a fracture in the Shiv Sena and the downfall of Uddhav Thackeray’s government. Instantly, the edited video was uploaded to YouTube on March 23 and incited backlash from Shinde’s supporters, who vandalized the venue, with it getting temporarily closed.
The Mumbai Police lodged the FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for defamation and public mischief and then issued three summons on March 25, 26, and April 5. Kamra, who is presently in Puducherry, had approached the Madras High Court seeking for an interim anticipatory bail, which was granted until April 7. Meanwhile, he has approached the Bombay High Court for quashing the FIRs and has contended that they violate his constitutional right to free speech under Article 19 and to personal liberty under Article 21.
Legal Battles and Police Action
Kamra, refusing to comply with summons from Mumbai Police, is now at the receiving end of badgering comments from authorities and allies of Shinde. He states that the FIRs have been filed politically and that he has a whole pattern of harassment against anyone opposing the ruling coalition. Neither could they attend to the virtual questioning, which the lawyer team cited as logistically difficult. But, according to the police, it cannot be done without physical attendance.
Maharashtra legislative council also admitted breach of privilege notice against Kamra and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushma Andhare on charges of “insulting” Shinde. The matter will go to the Privileges Committee, which may enhance such punishments beyond the reach of criminal ones.
Venue Vandalism and Civic Retaliation
Hours after Kamra’s performance, Shiv Sena workers ransacked Habitat Studio smashing equipment and furniture. The next day, parts of the venue were demolished using machinery from the Municipal Corporation, an act ostensibly done on “building violations”. It was generally taken as a retaliation. The management of Habitat distanced itself from any content of Kamra, saying that it does not control the editorial policy.
This looks like the past crackdowns on dissent where the critics blame the state for using the civic bodies to muzzle the opposition. Ambadas Danve from Shiv Sena (UBT) also mentioned the ‘selective outrage’ of BJP politicians, as Kamra jokes on PM Modi and none reacted badly.
Kamra’s Defiant Response
Kamra doesn’t intend to apologize, seeing the case as an attack on artistic freedom. On March 25, he said, “Your inability to take a joke at the expense of a powerful public figure doesn’t change the nature of my right”. On April 1, he released a satirical guide named How to Kill an Artist, giving guidelines like “outrage violently until even the smallest spaces shut their doors” and “summon their audience for questioning”.
His open letter dated April 7 to BookMyShow, which delisted his shows, demanded either reinstatement or audience data to prove his work’s reach. To Kamra, the compliance of the ticketing platform to pressure groups reflected corporate complicity in curbing dissent.
Political Fallout
The incident has divided the political landscape of Maharashtra. With Shinde’s supporters demanding Kamra’s arrest, many opposition associates, including Danve, have critiqued the BJP and its alleged use of Shinde as a “front” to crush critics. While acknowledging the role of satire in democracy, Shinde writes: “Action causes reaction”-in a manner justifying violence.
Kamra’s backers fear that such an incident could discourage comedians and artists altogether. Whilst the Editors’ Guild of India and PEN International have not spoken, #StandWithKamra campaigns have trended nationally.
Broader Implications for Free Speech
This case throws into question the exercise of India toward protecting satire under Article 19 while allowing for “reasonable restrictions” vis-à-vis defamation and public order. Legal experts feel that Kamra’s satire did not directly name Shinde, creating a legal hurdle for a defamation lawsuit. However, the April 21 court hearing will set the unfolding precedent to navigate the fine line between artistic expression and political accountability.
Kamra’s approach mirrors another case with stand-up comedy by Munawar Faruqui, who was accosted with multiple allegations in 2021 for jokes about Hindu gods. While also being desperate for the arrested cards, Kamra goes directly against a performing Deputy CM, thereby worsening escalation.
What’s Next?
With Kamra’s interim bail expiring on April 7, Mumbai police could be filing fresh charges if Bombay High Court overturns the dismissal of the case. His legal team also is making a way clear to challenge the security notice, which they have addressed as “disproportionate to democratic criticism.”
Pending judgment by the court, Kamra’s case brings to fore the precariousness of any political satire in India-more and more frustratingly cut off by the law, corporate censorship, and mob violence.
Whatever comes of the legal show running from one hearing to a direct appeal in this case is bound to determine the fine line between humor, authority, and defiance within the framework of Indian democracy.
About Author
Syeda Ayesha is a passionate 3rd year BBA LLB student at Sultan-Ul-Uloom College of Law in Hyderabad, with a special interest in criminal law and family law. She has built her academic journey on a solid foundation of legal principles, progressing from basic to advanced levels, and is eager to apply this knowledge in practice. Determined to gain practical experience, she is committed to learning more about the law. Ayesha is excited about the opportunity to work in a dynamic legal environment, which she sees as a valuable avenue for both personal and professional growth.