Aid For Kunal Kamra As Court docket Stays Arrest In Eknath Shinde Parody Row

Mumbai:

The Bombay Excessive Court docket on Wednesday reserved its order on comic Kunal Kamra’s petition in search of the quashing of an FIR registered in opposition to him for allegedly making defamatory remarks in opposition to Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and granted him interim safety from arrest.

A division bench of Justices S Kotwal and S Modak, after listening to arguments from each side, reserved its order. It directed the Mumbai police to not arrest Mr Kamra until the order is handed within the matter.

A First Info Report has been registered at Khar police station right here in opposition to the slapstick comedian for allegedly calling Shinde “gaddar” (traitor) throughout a present within the metropolis. Employees of Shinde’s get together, Shiv Sena, additionally vandalised the studio the place the present had been recorded.

Mr Kamra’s lawyer Navroz Seervai identified that opposition leaders hurled the traitor slur at Eknath Shinde through the 2024 Maharashtra meeting polls marketing campaign, however no motion was taken.

However the comic has been terrorised and victimised, and within the course of a stern message has been despatched to artistes, by means of the police, that “if we do not prefer it, that is what we are going to do to you”, he mentioned.

Throughout the present, Mr Kamra sang a parody model of a track from the movie “Dil To Pagal Hai” which used the phrase “gaddar”. He then went on to joke about how Shinde rebelled in opposition to Uddhav Thackeray and break up the Shiv Sena in 2022.

Mr Seervai submitted that previously, NCP chief Ajit Pawar, now deputy chief minister, had commented that `it is time to educate a lesson to the traitor who halts the great work of the federal government’. However no criticism was filed, the lawyer added.

Ajit Pawar was then a part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi authorities, consisting of the undivided Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, earlier than Shinde broke away and joined palms with the BJP.

Mr Seervai additional highlighted that the opposition’s complete marketing campaign through the 2024 meeting elections was fought on this difficulty, with a booklet tilted “Panchanama (inspection report) of the traitor Eknath Shinde authorities” being launched.

He additionally cited an announcement of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray who mentioned it was not simply him who confronted betrayal by the “traitor”, a reference to Shinde, “however your complete Maharashtra has confronted betrayal.” “That is lifeless severe politics at its most intense, not comedy or satire….however no motion has been taken in opposition to them,” the lawyer submitted.

He argued that Mr Kamra, as a part of his present, expressed private views on the political upheaval in Maharashtra that led to a break up in Shiv Sena.

However even his aged mother and father have been harassed, advocate Mr Seervai claimed, referring to the police serving a summons on the residence of Mr Kamra’s mother and father in Mumbai.

“I will not be exaggerating if I say it is nearly unprecedented….you referred to as individuals who attended the present for investigation, this exhibits it’s utterly malafide,” he submitted.

No offence was made out in opposition to Mr Kamra, the lawyer argued, whereas additionally citing threats from a number of politicians as the explanation he didn’t seem earlier than the police in Mumbai.

Public prosecutor Hiten Venegaonkar opposed the plea, contending that the comic’s act was not “humorous criticism” of a authorities, however “malicious focusing on of a person” whose status was lowered in society.

“It isn’t simply concerning the `gaddar’ remark, however (speaking about) somebody’s previous and (claiming he’s) sitting in somebody’s lap. There isn’t a humour within the track, it is single focusing on of a person….the place is the criticism of Shinde as deputy CM or deputy chief minister or his work,” he argued.

Mr Venegaonkar additional submitted that simply because no one got here ahead to file a criticism when sure phrases have been spoken previously, it doesn’t imply you can not ever be prosecuted for utilizing such phrases.

Responding to the courtroom’s question as to why the police wanted to report Mr Kamra’s assertion, the prosecution mentioned probe was required to gather proof in assist of the allegation made within the FIR.

On the menace to the comic if he got here to Mumbai, Mr Venegaonkar submitted that defending each particular person is the responsibility of the state.

“Let him come ahead and say (that he’s dealing with a menace)….we are going to present safety, if wanted,” the prosecution mentioned.

The Excessive Court docket reserved its order with out specifying when it will be handed.

(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is printed from a syndicated feed.)