Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra faces fresh legal troubles as three separate cases have been filed against him at Mumbai’s Khar police station over his alleged controversial remarks about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
According to Mumbai Police, the complaints were lodged by the Mayor of Jalgaon city, a hotelier, and a businessman from Nashik. Kamra has been summoned twice for questioning but has yet to appear before the police.
The controversy stems from Kamra’s satirical comments, which have sparked backlash from political leaders, including Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel, who filed a case against him. Meanwhile, the Madras High Court granted Kamra interim anticipatory bail until April 7, offering him temporary relief from arrest.
Amid the controversy, Kamra has remained defiant, criticizing the mainstream media for acting as a “miscommunication arm of the ruling party” and condemning its role in spreading misinformation. He has also refused to apologize for his remarks, arguing that political figures should not be immune to satire.
Following the uproar, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena youth wing, Yuva Sena, vandalized The Habitat comedy venue where Kamra’s show was filmed. Responding to the incident, Kamra stated that attacking a venue for a comedian’s words was “senseless” and reiterated that his freedom of expression remains intact.
Kamra further defended his right to satire, stating, “Our right to free speech is not just for praising the powerful. Making jokes about politicians is not illegal, as far as I know.”
Despite the legal challenges and political pressure, Kamra has vowed to cooperate with the police while standing by his words.
